News
PAGE 3
Holiday 2015
Revolutions at Disneyland for the OCSA Community
Stephanie Katz
Staff Writer
For the second year in
a row, members of the
OCSA community joined
together at Disneyland to
particpate in the annual Carousel of Possible
Dreams, a fundraiser by
the Festival of Children
Foundation to raise money for individual non-profit
organizations. For the first
time in forever, Disney has
honored its 60th anniversary traditions by inviting
exactly 60 non-profits to
the event, and thankfully
OCSA was one of them.
A total of $59,433 was
raised by OCSA participants--which included
directors and other staff.
This is approximately
$10,000 more than OCSA’s goal to raise $50,000,
making OCSA the most
profitable team at the
event.
OCSA’s arts conservatories are fully funded
by individual voluntary
donations, so this event is
imperative to supporting
arts classes. OCSA Development and Marketing
Associate Kelly Walpert
said this event is “a platform to raise the money
From left to right: Riley Wilson (Asst. Vocal Dir. of MONTAGE!) and Daniel de Akaral (Guitar Coordinator),
with directors Dan Mattos (CAH), Jeff Paul (MT), Paige
Oden (VA), Marlene Peña (ID), and Dan St. Marseille
(CM)
Photo by: Stephanie Katz
and it gives us a special
way to ask for those donations.”
Ten OCSA riders were
invited to spin around
King Arthur’s Carousel to
raise money for arts-related causes specific to their
conservatory. Suzy Haner,
co-coordinator for Commercial Music, took the
position as the top donor for the entire event,
raising more than $31,800
($10,000 more than last
year) by asking many
families to help support
OCSA and her passion for
the arts.
Haner is excited to utilize the money she raised
Dragon Kim Foundation:
Playing an instrumental role
Nikki Rosenbloom
Staff Writer
The Dragon Kim Foundation, in memory of
Dragon Kim, was created to raise money for an
after-school program, including music lessons and
new classical instruments
for students in need from
an elementary school in
Santa Ana.
Sophomore Dragon Kim
(CIM) and freshman Justin
Lee (CIM) passed away
on Aug. 14, 2015 after a
tree branch fell on their
camping tent in Yosemite National Park. OCSA
supported the families of
Kim and Lee by wearing
red and bringing flowers to school. Lee had
planned to attend OCSA,
while Kim had planned to
return for another year.
To continue expressing
support and condolences, the Instrumental
Music conservatory held
a special tribute concert
on October 27, 2015. The
Dragon Kim foundation
was influenced by the
constant support from
OCSA.
Administered through
Camp OCSA, Instrumental Music students will
have the opportunity to
share their expertise with
the younger elementary
students.
Dragon Kim always
wanted to share his
talents and passion
with younger kids. He
knew that there were
after-school programs
for free lessons in theater and writing, but not
classical music. Because
of this, he discussed with
Teren Shaffer (Dean of
Arts Conservatories) his
plans to make it happen.
The foundation is currently raising a goal of
$1 million for music instruments, music books,
private instruction for
each child, administrative
oversight, and instructional fees. The classes are
scheduled to begin in
January 2016.
By late 2016, expansion of the program is
expected, in addition to
a 100-piece orchestra
being established. If this is
achieved, the parents of
Dragon Kim will reach out
to other California schools
and implement music
programs there as well.
Dragon’s memory will
live on through this foundation.
this year to purchase new
keyboards for the “aspiring rockstars” and “buy a
new base amp and buy
some new guitar ampliphiers.”
Haner continued, “We
have a new film scoring
class, and we are going
to buy a lot of equipment
for that too.”
Not only is Commercial Music using funds to
benefit the students, but
several other participating conservatories plan
on using their funds for
new teachers and professional equipment.
Sandy Segerstrom
Daniels, founder of the
Daniel de Arakal (front), guitar coordinator, gets cozy
in the saddle on the King Arthur Carousel.
Paige Oden (VA) looks on.
Photo by: Stephanie Katz
Festival of Children Foundation, runs the Carousel
of Possible Dreams and
invited Dr. Opacic to
particpate in the eve