Our Team & Supporters

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Our Team

Our Supporting Partners

Individual Donors

Past Judges

OUR TEAM

OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS

OC ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Heide Janssen, Executive Producer | ocartistoftheyear@aoy.scng.com

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEWS GROUP

Jeff Miller, Features Editor

Leonard Ortiz, Photographer

Theresa Walker, Writer

Caroline Wong, Senior Director of Marketing

CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS

Anne Hogan, Dean

Hannah Alikhani, Assistant Director of Operations

Rob Octavio, Conservatory Operations Coordinator

Jasmine Nicholson, Communication & Marketing Specialist

SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Lisa Middleton, Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Lisa Morabito Petersen, Vice President of Education

Carla Cruz, Senior Director, Communications

Emyli Gudmundson, Senior Director, Program Marketing

Cristal Ochoa, Director of Education Programs

Scarlet Wu, Associate Manager, Education Programs

ARTS ORANGE COUNTY

Patrick Brien, Executive Director

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

| Gifts up to $1,000

Serena Adam

Susan Arena Zumdahl

Randy Au

Brandi Bagley

Michael Baron

Jeffrey Brem

Lisa Brennan

Autumn Browne

Sunshine Cavalluzzi

Michael Cooper

Rachel Cornish

Delanty Fine Art

Caroline Davies

Tyler DeAngelis

Michelle Delanty

Joyce Igama

Jula Inrig

Akiko Iseri

Jeremiah James

Joseph & Elaine Janssen

Robert Jesenski,

Gerald Johnston

Junior Chamber Music

Young Kang

Susie Kim

Stacy Lawrence

Wendy Levine

Ronald Martin

Michele Martire

Gary Matsuura

Victoria Matta

Kirsti McCleary

Monica McQueen

Jena Minnick-Bull

Luz Napoles Loreto

Ben Newcott

Marlene Nihart

Ryan Olsen

Marlene Peña-Marin

Pixelcaster

Gavin Ray

Anita Rovsek

Crystal Schachter

Julie Sparnicht

Angela Stecher

Dana Sullivan

Lauren Suydam

Posh Kat Switzer

James Thomas

Bochin Tong

Cindy Trostler

Kimberly Tweedt

Susan West Knight

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PAST JUDGES

ROUND 1: The nominees round, or Round 1, utilizes arts teachers and private instructors from Orange County high schools as the judges. Theater teachers evaluate theater nominees, visual arts teachers evaluate visual arts nominees, etc. Teachers do NOT evaluate their own students. In the adjudication forms we give them, they are required to skip any student for whom they have taught in the past.

ROUND 2: The semifinalists round, or Round 2, we invite the artists to an in-person interview where they present their art form and have a conversation with arts professionals. The judges for Round 2 include department chairs and faculty from local prominent universities, professional artists, arts writers, and high school arts teachers.

The panelists below should give you an idea of the caliber of arts professionals who have evaluated our artists in the past.

THEATER

Joe Alanes, director of education, Laguna Playhouse

John Benitz, chair, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Martin Benson, founder/director, South Coast Repertory

Susan Berkompas, department chair, professor of theater, Department of Theatre Arts, Vanguard University

Tom Bradac, professor, directing and acting Shakespeare, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Dennis Castellano, head of musical theater (retired), Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Drama, UC Irvine

Kristin Campbell, assistant professor, instructional faculty, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Joyce Cantrell, assistant professor, instructional faculty, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Amberly Chamberlain, associate professor of theater arts, Santa Ana College

Drew Chappell, instructional assistant professor, Chapman University

TJ Dawson, executive producer and artistic director, 3D Theatricals

Zachary Dietz, assistant professor of teaching, musical theater, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Drama, UC Irvine

David Emmes, founder/director, South Coast Repertory

Danielle Federico, producer, Film Independent Spirit Awards

Nick Gabriel, assistant professor, acting, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Emily Heebner, lecturer, acting, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Eve Himmelheber, associate professor, head of BFA program, College of the Arts, Department of Theater and Dance, CSU Fullerton

Paul Hodgins, publisher and co-founder, Culture OC

Darryl Hovis, co-education director, Chance Theater

David Ivers, artistic director, South Coast Repertory

Anna Jennings, artistic coordinator, South Coast Repertory

Daniel Keeling, assistant professor, musical theater, UC Irvine

Nina LeNoir, vice provost of undergraduate education, and professor, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

Marc Lyncheski, director of marketing, Laguna College of Art and Design

Candice Martinez-Clasby, theater arts professor, Fullerton College

Anne McNiff-Gaeta, director of group services, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Oanh Nguyen, artistic director, Chance Theater

Courtney Ozovek, general dance, CSU Fullerton

Andrew Palermo, assistant professor in musical theater, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Drama, UC Irvine

Eric Peterson, professional actor, Broadway and TV

Lisa Peterson, vice president of education, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Martie Ramm, chair of performing arts, Golden West College

Casey Reitz, president, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, Chapman University

Steve Venz, coordinator for visual and performing arts, Orange County Department of Education

Tony Vezner, professor of theater, School of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University Irvine

Jonathan Vietz, senior director of series marketing, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

John Walcutt, CEO/producing artistic director, Shakespeare Orange County

Tamiko Washington, associate professor, voice and movement, and interim chair, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theatre, Chapman University

DANCE

Jenny Backhaus, artistic director, Backhausdance; assistant professor, Chapman University

Rachel Berman, dance department chair, Orange Coast College

Amanda Cobb, ballet teacher, ABT/Gillespie School

Nancy Dickson-Lewis, department chair, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Jodie Gates, vice dean and director, Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, USC

Heather Gillette, professor of dance, department co-chair, Santa Ana College

Alicia Guy, professor, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Chad Michael Hall, associate professor, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance, UC Irvine

Alaine Haubert, director, ABT/Gillespie School

Michelle Hebert, dance instructor, College of the Arts, Department of Theater and Dance, CSU Fullerton

Paul Hodgins, arts writer-at-large, Orange County Register

Dianne Howe, former president, National Dance Association

Amelie Hunter, dance department co-chairwoman, Orange Coast College

Ariyan Johnson, assistant professor of dance, UC Irvine

Sarah Jones, assistant director, American Ballet Theatre, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Robin Kish, associate professor, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Jennifer La Curan, full time faculty, Irvine Valley College

Kelly Leonardi, pre professional division faculty, ABT Gillespie

Stephanie Liapis, assistant professor of dance, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Lisa D. Long, faculty, College of the Arts, Department of Theater and Dance, CSU Fullerton

Cathy Lozano, director/choreography, Disney Entertainment Productions

Vitor Luiz, assistant professor of dance, ballet, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance, UC Irvine

Molly Lynch, professor, and department chair of dance, ballet, repertory, arts management, UC Irvine

Wilson Mendieta, assistant professor, College of the Arts, Department of Theater and Dance, CSU Fullerton

Hillary McCarthy, adjunct faculty, Laguna College of Art and Design

Dale Merrill, dean, College of the Arts, CSU Fullerton

Boroka Nagy, artistic director, Re:borN Dance Interactive

Lisa Naugle, professor, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance, UC Irvine

Julianne O'Brien, chair, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Cyrian Reed, assistant professor of dance, jazz and hip hop, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Dance, UC Irvine

Melanie Ríos Glaser, artistic director, The Wooden Floor

Melanie Kay Rosa, instructor, Fullerton College

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Kelly Uygan, faculty, ABT/Gillespie School

Steve Venz, coordinator for visual and performing arts, Orange County Department of Education

Corey Wright, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Department of Dance, Chapman University

Kaitlin Wright, arts journalist and dance instructor, Momentum Dance

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Ron Anderson, lecturer, piano, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Robert Becker, associate professor, viola, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Haroutune Bedelian, professor, violin, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music, UC Irvine

Alison Bjorkedal, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Siri Bloom, artistic operations coordinator, Philharmonic Society

Renee Bodie, general manager, Soka Performing Arts Center

Connor Bogengrief, CoPA career advisor, Chapman University

Taryn Carter, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Daniel De Arakal, assistant professor, instructional faculty, and director of guitar studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Marc Dickey, professor of music, conducting, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

William Fitzpatrick, director of string studies and professor of music, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Kenneth Foerch, associate professor of music, Vanguard University

Grace Fong, professor, and director, keyboard studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Robert Frelly, professor, and director of music education, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Kimo Furumoto, associate professor, College of the Arts, School of Music, CSU Fullerton

Randy Goldberg, director of the School of Music, CSU Fullerton

Mark Goodrich, associate professor, College of the Arts, School of Music, CSU Fullerton

Gary Gopar, department chair of music, Cypress College

Alejandro Gutiérrez, music director, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, and associate conductor, Pacific Symphony

Jeff Held, assistant dean, College of Arts & Sciences, and professor, director of arts activities, director of instrumental activities, School of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University Irvine

Vera Ivanova, associate producer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Roger Kalia, associate conductor, Pacific Symphony, and music director, Symphony New Hampshire

Dennis Kim, concertmaster, Pacific Symphony

Jenny Kim, lecturer, horn, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Bongshin Ko, professor of cello, CSU Fullerton, and principal cello, The New York Soloists

Sarah Koo, lecturer, cello and chamber music, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music, UC Irvine

John Koshak, professor emeritus, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

John Magnum, president and artistic director, Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Timothy Mangan, music critic, Orange County Register

Gary Matsuura, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Laszlo Mezo, lecturer, cello, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Tom Mueller, director of keyboard activities, School of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University Irvine

Mary Palchak, lecturer, flute, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Molly Pontin, director of education and community programs, Pacific Chorale

Susanne Reid, department chair and professor of music, Vanguard University

Rebecca Rivera, lecturer, bassoon, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

David Scott, assistant conductor, Orange County Youth Symphony

Ted Sugata, lecturer, oboe, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Louise Thomas, professor, associate dean, academic affairs, and director of keyboard collaborative arts, Chapman University

Matthew Tresler, Music Department chair, Irvine Valley College

Stephen Tucker, associate professor, and director of UCI symphony orchestra, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music, UC Irvine

Steve Venz, coordinator for visual and performing arts, Orange County Department of Education

Binh Vu, Music Department chair, Santiago Canyon College

David Alfred Wachs, director of orchestra activities, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Chih-Chen Wei, lecturer, theory, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Tammy Yi, assistant professor, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Steve Young, assistant professor of dance, director of Worship Arts Leadership Institute, Concordia University Irvine

Shawne Zarubica, managing director, Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles

VOCAL MUSIC

Peter Atherton, professor, director of operatic studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Robert Barefield, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Aram Barsamian, music professor, Fullerton College

Robin Buck, professor, vocal music, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music, UC Irvine

Steven Coker, director, choral activities, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Rhett Del Campo, president and CEO, Pacific Chorale

Paul Floyd, lecturer, collaborative arts, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Kimo Furumoto, associate professor, CSU Fullerton

Patrick Goeser, lecturer (voice), College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Mark Goodrich, associate professor, College of the Arts, School of Music, CSU Fullerton

Scott Hedgecock, retired high school music teacher

Paul Hodgins, publisher and cofounder, Culture OC

Marin Jacobson, music department chair, Concordia University Irvine

Daniel Keeling, assistant professor of teaching, Musical Theater, UC Irvine

Talena Mara, vice president of education and community, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Ruth Mason, director of ticket services, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Kyla McCarrel, conductor, women's choir, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Anne McNiff-Gaeta, director of group services, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Laszlo Mezo, lecturer, cello, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Mark Peng, lecturer, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Molly Pontin, director of education and community programs, Pacific Chorale

Joni Prado, associate professor of music, Vanguard University of Southern California

Susanne Reid, department chair and professor of music, Vanguard University

Rebecca Sherburn, associate professor, director of vocal studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Jennifer Siglin, graphic designer, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Dennis Siebenaler, associate professor of music, College of the Arts, School of Music, CSU Fullerton

Darryl Taylor, vocal arts area head, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Music, UC Irvine

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Louise Thomas, professor, associate dean, academic affairs, and director of keyboard collaborative arts, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Angel M. Vazquez-Ramos, director of music education, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Steve Venz, coordinator for visual and performing arts, Orange County Department of Education

Binh Vu, Music Department chair, Santiago Canyon College

Tammy Yi, assistant professor, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

Steve Young, assistant professor of dance, director of Worship Arts Leadership Institute, Concordia University Irvine

Dubravka Zubovic, founder/artistic director, OC Ars Vocalis Academy

VISUAL ARTS

Kelly Bishop, manager, family and public programs, Orange County Museum of Art

Steven J. Brittan, president & CEO, Laguna College of Art and Design

Kristin Campbell, assistant professor, instructional faculty, College of Performing Arts, Department of Theater, Chapman University

Tim Campbell, collections manager, Laguna Art Museum

Richard Chang, art critic, Orange County Register

Eric Chimenti, associate professor, Chapman University

Anne Compean, admissions counselor, Laguna College of Art and Design

Alyssa Cordova, curatorial associate, Orange County Museum of Art

Philip Dimitriadis, full time faculty, Fullerton College

Ziying Duan, assistant curator and curatorial administrator, Orange County Museum of Art

Dan Finley, executive director, Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center

Frances Fuller, graphic designer, Orange County Museum of Art

James Galindo, faculty, Laguna College of Art and Design

Jon Ginnaty, lecturer, ceramics, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Art, Chapman University

Gregg Hamby, art director, Wyland Worldwide

Will Hare, professional photographer

Rachel Hayes, department chair, associate professor of art, School of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University Irvine

Dana Herkelrath, associate professor of visual communication, assistant chair, Graphic Design and Digital Media, Laguna College of Art and Design

Elizabeth Holster, professor and program coordinator, teaching (art education)

Donivan Howard, associate professor of art, Cypress College

Cody Jimenez, graduate mentor, , Laguna College of Art and Design

Amy Kells, admissions counselor, Laguna College of Art and Design

David Kiddie, assistant professor of art, ceramics and sculpture, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Art, Chapman University

David Lee, art gallery curator, Coastline Community College

Eric Leffler, instructor, Coastline Community College

Marc Lychenski, director of marketing, Laguna College of Art and Design

Irin Mahaparn, asst. curator of education, Laguna Art Museum

Kelley Moglika, adjunct professor, Laguna College of Art and Design

Michelle Murillo, chair, Department of Art, CSU Fullerton

Janet Owens Driggs, associate professor of art history, Cypress College

Carolin Peters, faculty, Laguna College of Art and Design

Hope Railey, chairwoman of fine arts, Laguna College of Art and Design

Caitlin Reller, assistant curator of education, Laguna Art Museum

Ina Rosca, teaching artist, Laguna Art Museum

Kevin Scianni, arts instructor, Coastline and Orange Coast Colleges

Andrew Shalat, assistant professor, graphic design, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Department of Art, Chapman University

Carl Smith, director of design, Laguna Art Museum

Christina Smith, professor and program coordinator, crafts/jewelry/metalsmithing, Dept. of Visual Arts, Cal State Fullerton

Marinta Skupin, curator of education, Laguna Art Museum

Robert Stacy, adjunct faculty, Laguna College of Art and Design

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

David Trend, professor, Claire Trevor School of the Arts, Department of Art, UC Irvine

Ray Vargas, admissions counselor, Laguna College of Art and Design

David Vargo, faculty, illustration, Laguna College of Art and Design

Steve Venz, coordinator for visual and performing arts, Orange County Department of Education

Tim Vitale, registrar, Laguna Art Museum

Chen Wang, professor, graphic and interactive design, College of the Arts, Department of Visual Arts, CSU Fullerton

FILM & TV

Anne Beatts, lecturer, Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University

Barry Blaustein, associate professor (screenwriting), Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University

Jill Condon, assistant professor, artistic faculty, Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University

Logan Crow, executive director, The Frida

Danielle Federico, producer, Film Independent Spirit Awards

Michael Hewitt, TV critic, Orange County Register

Tasha Hunter, lecturer, Cal State Long Beach

Morgane Keesling, gaming and animation, Disney

Andy Lane, associate film professor, storytelling, Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University

Everett Lewis, associate film professor, USC

Eric Nong, artistic director, Viet Film Fest

Christopher Pavlick, Emmy-winning producer, "Inheritance"

Victor Payan, director, OC Film Fiesta/MASA Media

Bojana Sandic, director of short film programming, Newport Beach Film Festival

Gregg Schwenk, executive director, Newport Beach Film Festival

Keith Sharon, screenwriter ("Showtime" and "Finding Steve McQueen") and staff writer, Orange County Register

Ricardo Silva, lecturer (media studies), Cal State Long Beach

Travis Sims, education and technical trainer, RED Camera

Torrey Tayenaka, CEO/co-founder, Sparkhouse

Nicholas Terry, associate professor, director of percussion studies, College of Performing Arts, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Chapman University

David Waldman, film and electronic arts faculty (cinematography), Cal State Long Beach

Eric Walls, associate professor (animation), Laguna College of Art and Design

Eric Young, deputy chair, assistant professor (producing),Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Chapman University