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Fine Arts Staff Biographies A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Okh P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Kerri Arakawa
- Kerri Arakawa is a graduate of California State University
Long Beach with a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Teaching Credential
in Music. Kerri started teaching private lessons in Orange County
in 1992, and taught music in Los Alamitos before moving to the Irvine
Unified School District where she has spent the last 5 years teaching
orchestra at the elementary level. She is a member of several professional
organizations including National Flute Association, American String Teachers
Association, Southern California Band and Orchestra Association, and Music
Educators National Conference. Jeff Austerman - Instrumental Music teacher at University High School Bob Avzaradel
- Bob is in his 19th year as a music educator
and in his 12th year at Irvine High School which was named a Grammy Signature
"Gold" School, designating the music department as one of the
top ten in the nation. His responsibilities at IHS Include; conducting
the Concert Band, Symphonic band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble I, Piano,
Guitar, Marching Band and serving as department chair. Bob has been
a member of S.C.S.B.O.A. where he served a two-year term as vice-president
of Jazz Education, he has also been a member of I.A.J.E. and M.E.N.C.
for each of his 19 years. In addition to Bob's responsibilities
at Irvine H.S., he spent eight years as the director of the Big Band (jazz)
at Saddleback College. Bob shows great flexibility as a music educator
demonstrated by him serving as the guest conductor for the Long Beach
Unified Fred Ohlendorf Honor Orchestra, the S.C.S.B.O.A. Junior High Jazz
All-Stars, the Capistrano Unified School District Honor Band, as well
as serving as clinician/adjudicator for bands and orchestras throughout
the Southland. David Baker - Art teacher at Woodbridge High School Pat Bangs - Pat graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State
University in 1974 and received her credential shortly thereafter.
She was hired in Irvine in 1981 and currently teaches photography at Woodbridge
High School and coordinates the school's year book. She enjoys hiking,
skiing (both water and snow) and, of course, taking pictures. Her
husband also works at Woodbridge High School teaching special education
and coaching the girls basketball team. She has three sons and her
family currently lives in North Tustin.
Gayle Bentley -
Gayle Bentley has been the Instrumental Music Director at University
High School since the fall of 2003. Prior to this, Mrs. Bentley
served as the Instrumental Music Director at Edison HS in Huntington Beach
(2001-2003) and the Assistant Band Director at Euless Junior High School
in Euless, Texas (1999-2001). Under her baton, Mrs. Bentley's
bands and orchestras have consistently earned superiors at music festivals
around Southern California, performed at the California Band Director's
Association state conference, and performed at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center Wind Festival. Mrs. Bentley has presented clinics to
several local, state, and national organizations, including the Southern
California School Band and Orchestra Association, the California Band
Director's Association, and the Women Band Director's International.
She is honored to have been appointed the First Vice President of the
Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Executive Board
for 2004-05. Joslynne Blasdel
- Instrumental
Music at Woodbridge High School Janice Bora
- Elementary
School Wind Specialist Diane Brand - Vocal Music at Sierra Vista Middle School
Bill Bryant - Bill holds a the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Redlands which he received in 1969. He later received his K-9 Teaching Credential and his Single Subject Credential in Art. Since being hired in Irvine in 1973, he has taught grades 1-5 at El Camino Real Elementary; ceramics, math, P.E., woodshop, and social science at Venado Middle School; and ceramics and math at Woodbridge High School. Currently he is teaching ceramics and math at University High School. Bill enjoys windsurfing, skiing, tennis, pottery, and spending time is his home which he recently refurbished himself. Bill did not originally intend to be a ceramics teacher: "I took a Ceramics course my last semester in college just to get enough units to graduate. I have now been teaching Ceramics for 25 years. You just never know!" Jill Carter - Jill Carter is a graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City with a degree in piano performance. Jill and her daughter Christine, a junior at Irvine High School, live in Northwood. They make frequent trips to Pepperdine University where daughter Caroline is a junior. In addition to her duties at Irvine High School, Jill is the accompanist for the Pacific Chorale Children's Chorus. She is in demand as accompanist for soloists, small groups, weddings and church choirs. Jill Carter is in her eleventh year as accompanist at Irvine High School. Katie Colaizzi - Elementary School String Specialist Colleen Cosgrove - Colleen received her B.A. In Art and Marketing from Chapman University and is pursuing further education classes at Cal State Fullerton. In addition to being an art specialist in the Irvine School District, teaching K-6th grade at various schools throughout the district (El Camino, Deerfield Elem., Springbrook Elem., Brywood Elem., and Westpark Elem.), she freelances graphic design projects and keeps busy with painting and ceramics. Colleen owned her own advertising/graphic design firm for 15 before deciding to share her love of art with children.
Leslie Earle
- Vocal Music teacher at Venado Middle School Diane Formica
- Elementary
School Vocal Specialist Mark Ghiassi - Wind Specialist at Plaza Vista and Vista Verde Schools Blake Gould - Blake Gould brings over twenty-five years experience in directing and producing plays in the Orange County area. As a high school & college theatre arts instructor, he has directed over eighty plays. His involvement in local arts is evident by his work with the Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine Valley College Theatrefaire for Children, Saddleback Civic Light Opera and Saddleback Children's Festival, Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Imagination Celebration of Orange County. Currently at Northwood High School, Mr. Gould teaches Creative Drama, Intermediate Drama, Advanced Drama and Play Production. In 2005, he received the Orange County Arts Educator of the Year 2005 Award from Arts Orange County for his collaborative work with the Northwood High Performing Arts Department. In 1998, Mr. Gould received Teacher of the Year Award from the California League of High Schools. Mr. Gould serves as a representative of the Orange County Department of Education and the California Learning Resource Network as an appointed statewide reviewer of electronic resources in Visual and Performing Arts – grades 9 – 12. Dianna Gray
- Dianna graduated from Chapman University in 1989 with a Bachelor
of Music degree. She currently teaches 4th through 6th grade strings
at Santiago Hills, Westwood Basics, Meadowpark, Deerfield, and Greentree
Elementary schools. Dianna has been teaching in IUSD for 14 years.
She has been the director of the IUSD Elementary Honor Chamber Strings
and Honor Orchestra on several occassions, the string teacher and
manager of the Irvine Unified School District Middle School Honor Orchestra,
the guest conductor of the Capistrano Unified School District Honor Chamber
Strings Orchestra, and has served as a string clinician for both the California
Music Educator's Association and The Southern California School Band and
Orchestra Association. Dianna also enjoys performing as a freelance
violinist and has a professional string ensemble called "Enchanted
Strings". Dianna and her husband Marcus live in Laguna Niguel
and they have a 7 year old son named Sebastian. Jason Grenier
- We are pleased to welcome back Mr. Grenier
to our Irvine staff. This year he serves as music teacher for South
Lake Middle School. A native of Boston, MA, Mr. Grenier joined the
Ivine staff last year as an elementary music specialist. His
prior teaching experience include instrumental, choral and general music
for grades K-8, all in the Greater Boston area. Though a classical
guitar player by training, Mr. Grenier has pursued an eclectic performance
schedule which includes orchestral and jazz bass, piano and guitar. Susan Gumpert
- Elementary School String Specialist Kati Hackett
- Art teacher at Northwood HIgh School Zach Halop - Vocal Music teacher at Northwood High School. Irvine Unified Fine Arts Teacher of the Year in 1997, Zach Halop has performed nationally and internationally as a director and singer. Zach is very active in the music of Orange County. He directs the Pacific Chorale Boys Chorus, the Saint James Chancel Coir of Newport Beach, is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Saint James Chamber Series. You might also find him umpiring baseball games for South Irvine Little League.
Linda Halopoff
- Linda Halopoff has taught in IUSD since 1995 and
is currently a K-6 Fine Arts Specialist at Turtle Rock, Eastshore and
University Park elementary schools. She attended UCLA and graduated with
a Bachelor of Arts in History, returning to Concordia University for her
multiple subjects teaching credential in 1994. Integrating K-6 math, language
arts, social studies and science curriculum with her art lessons comes
naturally, and she is fascinated by how much she continues to learn as
she teaches.
Brad Harris - Brad Harris received his bachelors in Music Education from Cal State University, Long Beach, during his educational experience he played professionally at Knott’s Berry Farm, Queen Mary and toured throughout the country with Americus Brass Band, recording for many movies and Television shows. He also began a successful business named Camp Esprit which was a summer colorguard camp for Junior High and High School students. After graduating, Brad landed a musician lead spot with the Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom Korps. Later in 1995 he took a position as Band Director at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. A few years later Brad wanted to follow his second love – Landscape Architecture and received his Masters in Landscape Architecture. Some of his well known projects include streetscape design for Ladera Ranch and Cicero Ranch in Temecula. Additionally, for the past 17 years Brad has been touring the United States with Americus Brass Band and instructing colorguards throughout Southern California. In 2001 Brad rejoined the Disneyland Resort team as an Entertainment Manager and has received many awards for his hard work. Most recently Brad is completing his teaching credential at Cal State University, Long Beach and is Assistant Instrumental Director at Woodbridge High School.
Kathy Holcomb - Art teacher at South Lake Middle School Jack Houston - Jack Houston graduated from Cerritos College in 1970 with an AA degree in art. He then graduated from California State University at Fullerton with a BA in art, followed by his teaching certificate in 1973. He has been teaching middle school in Irvine since 1976. His teaching assignments have varied from physical education, math, social science, language arts, and exploring technology. He currently teaches painting, drawing, ceramics, mimic the masters, and physical education at Lakeside where he has been teaching since 1978. Linda Kayiran
- Linda Kayiran has been a visual arts instructor for 23 years
at all educational levels. She earned a B.F.A. in Fine Arts Education
from the University of Arizona in 1977. She travels extensively
in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East to continually enhance her
cultural, historical, and arts background. She has organized children's
art exhibits several times in Turkey with artwork from her elementary
students in Irvine. Linda currently teaches 4th through 6th grades
art at twleve elementary schools. She teaches private and small
group lessons outside school as well. She continues to do her own
watercolor and ceramic painting and will be an arts advocate forever! Hali Kessler - Photography teacher at University High School Christopher
Kroesen - Chris Kroesen received
his Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Teaching Credential from California
State University in Long Beach. He is a woodwind and brass specialist
in the Irvine USD and teaches at five elementary schools: Alderwood, Brywood,
Eastshore, Oak Creek and Turtle Rock. Mr. Kroesen has directed the Irvine
Elementary Honor Orchestra and served as a guest conductor of the San
Bernadino Elementary Honor Band. He is also the administrator of the Summer
Fine Arts Program at Oak Creek Elementary School. In addition to his work
witht the school district, Mr. Kroesen serves as the Irvine Public School
Foundation Instrumental Rental Program Manager. To date this fund-saiser
has donated over $1,000,000 to the Irvine USD Elementary Music Program
under Mr. Kroesen's direction. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator
at several Southern California music conferences. His awards include the
Encore Award for his outstanding contributions to music education in Orange
County and the 2002 Orange County Outstanding Arts Educator Award for
Elementary Instrumental Music. And, Mr. Kroesen is the winner of the Irvine
USD Fine Arts Department's Teacher of the Year Award for 2005. Irene Kroesen - Irene Kroesen received her bachelors degree in music education from
Chapman University. Currently, she is a string specialist for the Irvine Unified
School District at five elementary schools. Ms. Kroesen is also an adjunct
instructor at Chapman University where she teaches string pedagogy in the music education
program. Ms. Kroesen has appeared as conductor of the IUSD Elementary and Middle
School Honor Orchestras, guest conductor of the Las Vegas Middle School Honor Orchestra,
guest conductor of the Capistrano Unified School District Middle School Honor Orchestra
and manager and assistant conductor of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra.
She is presently the conductor of the Santiago String Youth Orchestra which is based in
North Orange County. Kaii Lee - Kaii was born in Taipei, Taiwan where she began her musical
training on the piano, French horn and cello. Her Catholic school
choir had provided the experience for singing in many different languages.
Since elementary school, she had traveled throughout Asia and the United
States to perform. She earned her B.A. degree in Piano Performance from
UCLA, where she served as the A Capella choir president under Roger Wagner.
She earned her M.A. degree from Cal State Northridge in Piano Performance
and studied under world renown pianist, Jacob Gimpel. While at CSUN,
Kaii also completed her K-12 Single Subject and Community College Teaching
Credentials. Before joining the Irvine Unified School District, she taught
piano courses at College of the Canyon, K-12 vocal and general music for
the Las Virgenes School District, and high school vocal and musical theatre
classes for the Oak Park Unified School District. She also taught
ear training and music theory classes at the Grove School of Music while
becoming a MIDI musician to work with musicians such as David Foster. Robin Lux - Robin received her BFA in drawing and painting from California State
University, Fullerton in 1992, her Masters in secondary education from California State
University, San Bernadino in 1998, and her Certificate in Digital Imaging from CSUF in
2000. After doing her student teaching in the Irvine Unified School District, she
worked at Silverado High School in Victorville where she was Art Department Chair.
She was hired in 1998 in Irvine and currently teaches Photo and Video Production at Irvine
High School and Computer Art at Woodbridge High School. In her free time, she takes
computer classes and her own art which will be displayed this November and December in the
DA Gallery in Pomona. Naoko Maruko - String Specialist at Plaza Vista and Vista Verde Schools Brendan McBrien - Brendan McBrien was born in Sunnyvale, California where he began his
musical training on the Horn in the fourth grade, and began composing at the age of 13.
After high school he attended California State University, Long Beach where he studied
Horn with Fred Fox and Calvin Smith, and composition with Justice Matthews and David
Felder. He obtained his B.A. in music (composition), and a masters degree in conducting.
He is an active freelance musician, composer, educator and contributing writer to The
Instrumentalist magazine. He is an active adjudicator, and clinician with presentations
and performances at both state, and local levels. He has been the site recipient of the
middle school teacher of the year in the Irvine Unified School District, and has multiple
listings in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. For the past 15 years his playing
experiences have included symphony orchestra, theater, movie and television work. His
compositions for band and orchestra are published with the Alfred, and Kjos Music
Companies. Brendan is currently director of instrumental music at Venado Middle
School and director of string orchestra at Irvine High School, both in Irvine, California
where he has taught since 1988. He is the founding director of orchestra at Santa Ana
College, and is currently the principal conductor of La Primavera Symphony Orchestra,
Orange County, California. His composition catalog contains over fifty pieces including
works for orchestra, band, solo voice, chamber ensembles and sonatas for many instruments.
Brendan currently lives in Orange, California with his wife, Karen, sons Kevin and
Patrick, and daughter Megan. Richard Messenger - Richard Messenger is a graduate of Hastings College (Nebraska). Graduate work has been done at the University of Iowa and at California State University, Fullerton. Messenger taught in Iowa high schools for seven years before moving to California in 1976. He has been choral music director at Irvine High School since 1977, and also directs the adult choir at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. He is a member of American Choral Directors Association, National Education Association, and Choral Conductors Guild, an organization of church musicians for which he served two years as California state president. From 1983 until July of 1997, Messenger served as Assistant Conductor and Director of Operations for the Pacific Chorale. He frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator for middle and high school choral festivals. Outside interests include the theatre, playing bridge, and travel.
Cori Miller
- Elementary School Art Specialist Henry Miller
- Henry Miller received his Bachelors of Music degree from
California State University, Long Beach in 1989 and received his professional
clear teaching credential the following year. Recently, he graduated
with honors from CSULB with a Masters of Music degree in trumpet and instrumental
music conducting. Henry is sought-after as a clinician on the subjects
of trumpet pedagogy and teaching methodology and has presented workshops
for several professional organizations in music education. He teaches
instrumental music at Sierra Vista Middle School and annually co-conducts
the Fine Arts Summer Music Program. Guinevere Morones
- Guinevere Morones has been teaching vocal music in the Irvine
Unified School District for the past five years. Mrs. Morones received
her Bachelors of Music in Music Education from the University of the Pacific
in Stockton, California. She spent three years in Burbank teaching vocal
and instrumental music before coming to IUSD. Mrs. Morones and her husband
are the proud parents of two beautiful girls; Alura Rose and Victoria
Maria. Marilyn Perona
- Marilyn received her Bachelor of Arts degree and graduated
magna cum laude in Theatre Arts from UCLA. She also studied a year
in the Universite de Caen and did a year of graduate studies in voice
at the New England Conservatory. She received her teaching credentials
from CSUF and currently holds credential authorizations in French, Vocal
Music, and Drama. She has had additional training in the Education
Through Music program, Orff Schulwerk, and Music Learning Theory. Marilyn
arrived in Irvine to teach General Music in 1997, after teaching French,
Spanish, and ELD for nine years. She currently teaches Vocal Performance
at El Camino, Springbrook, Stonecreek, University Park and Westpark Elementary
Schools and loves the diversity of students here, the strong presence
of parent and community suipport at the schools, and the great focus
on arts programs throughout the district. Claudia Posvar
- Claudia received her BA in Art in 1979 from California State
University, Long Beach and her Teaching Credential from CSULB ten years
later. She is currently teaching Art Fundamentals, Drawing, Painting,
Portfolio Preparation and AP Studio Portfolio at Woodbridge High School.
She is a member of the Niguel Art Association and enjoys producing her
own artwork when not teaching. She also is very devoted to her family
and home in Dana Point. Hee Jeong Przytulski- Elementary School Wind Specialist Ann Reigle -
Ann received her BA in Psychology in 1972 from UCLA and did
her teaching internship through UCI in the Irvine Unified School District
to receive her supplemental credential in Art. She originally taught
in the classroom at El Camino Real Elementary School up to the year 1981.
Currently, she teaches art to students K-6 at Canyon View Elementary School
but has also taught art at six other elementary schools in Irvine.
In 1995 she was awarded the IUSD Fine Arts Educator of the Year Award
and in 2000, she was nominated for the Orange County Arts Educator of
the Year Award. In 1991, she received a scholarship to the Getty
Institute. Laura Robinson - Laura Rice Robinson minored in theatre in at Elon University, N.C,, performing in at least two plays per year-memorably Bloody Mary and Blanche DuBois. She traveled Europe with Georgetown University for a summer where she played Juliet on Juliet’s balcony in Verona. The following summer she played Helena in "Midsummer Night’s Dream" at the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut. During the academic part of those years she taught and directed plays and musicals at Kellam High School while acting in Virginia Beach’s community theatre. She was accepted as an apprentice at ACT in San Francisco, but came south to study at the Professional Theatre Workshop and Justin Smith’s Academy in Hollywood where she found work as actress and set designer. In Irvine she has taught at UCI, University High, and Rancho San Joaquin, mostly mathematics in each of these schools, but fully credentialed in math, English, Spanish, art and computer ed. Her two children, products of IUSD schools, have careers in visual and performing arts. Laura is a painter and sculptor and shows in two local galleries. To see her current work, type her full name into your web browser. Jan Schulenburg - Jan Schulenburg is one of five teachers of Visual Arts
at Irvine High School. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree
in Fine Arts and Home Economics in 1970 from California State University,
Long Beach. Since being hired in the Irvine Unified School District
in 1973, she has taught interior design, fashion design, clothing construction,
child development, consumer economics, gourmet cooking and math competencies.
Currently, she is teaching multicultural art, color and design, and beginning
and advanced painting and drawing at Irvine High School. In addition
to the rewards of her teaching assignment, she enjoys spending time with
her husband, four children, four grandchildren, her home and garden, two
puppies, and cat.
Sarah Silver- Sarah Silver is a rencent graduate of Chapman University where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and is currently completing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. She is a classically trained violinist and has studied with several top performers in Los Angeles, though she is also interested in playing fiddle and jazz violin. Sarah has worked with the staff and students of Northwood High School as strings coach for the past two years, but this is the first year she has worked as a staff member. She currently conducts the String Orchestra and Concert Orchestra at Northwood High as well as the Concert Orchestra at University High School. Ellen Small - Ron Smart - Instrumental and Vocal Music at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School Ron Soderwall - In his forth year as director of choirs for Woodbridge High School, Mr. Soderwall has witnessed the upgrade of the choral program from three vocal ensembles to five performing choirs. Ron carries an Associate of Arts Degree in Music from Cerritos Junior College, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's of Arts Degree from California State University at Long Beach in Choral Conducting, Voice and Composition. He has taught Choral music on the Junior High, High School and Junior College level since graduating from CSULB in 1969. Mr. Soderwall is a published composer/arranger with multiple titles displayed in major catalogues as Shawnee Press and Gentry Music. For twenty years, Mr. Soderwall was a full-time Minister of Music for large churches in Southern California, Central California and Toronto, Canada. Ron and his beautiful wife, Christie, have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Stan Steele - Stan Steele is the Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts for the
Irvine Unified School District, and the conductor of the Irvine high School Symphonic
Orchestra. As Coordinator, Stan supports the instructional efforts of the elementary
art and music teachers in K-6 programs. He also works with the middle and high
school programs in coordinating art and musical events such as the district Honors
Concerts and county-wide art shows. Daniel Trevino - Vocal Music at University High School Mandy Tucker - Mandy Tucker has been teaching at Irvine High School since 1996. Currently, she teaches Advanced Placement Art History, Beginning and Advanced Photography, and 2D Computer Graphics. Mandy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Indiana State University in 1986 and her teaching credential in Visual Arts from California State University, Long Beach in 1995. This past summer, she taught at Idyllwild and traveled to Europe with some of her students. She currently lives in Irvine with her husband Ben and her two kids, Justine and Josie, who attend Irvine schools. Erica Turrell - With a bachelor's in music from University of California, Irvine and a master's in music from The University of Texas at Austin, Erica Turrell is an accomplished singer in musical theater and classical repertoire. She has performed roles such as: "The Baker's Wife" in Into The Woods, "Dorabella" in Cosi fan Tutte, "The Mother" in Hansel and Gretel, and most recently, "Sister Margaretta" in Saddleback Civic Light Opera's The Sound of Music. Ms. Turrell instructed voice at The Orange County High School of The Arts, where she music directed "My Fair Lady" under the direction of Susan Egan and she has also taught music/voice at Cypress Community College. Ms. Turrell is currently the music director at Laguna Country United Methodist Church in Laguna Woods and is a voice teacher for the Irvine Unified School District. Erica has recorded two CD's: One with the new music ensemble called "Octagon" and one as a choral singer on Celine Dion's 1998 Christmas Album (Sony). Besides teaching and music directing, Erica makes solo appearances through out Orange County and has her own voice studio (Studio E). Jean Turrell - Jean received her BA at UC Santa Barbara and MA at Stanford
and is in her third year in the Irvine U.S.D. She teaches elementary
vocal music at Vista Verde and Plaza Vista elementary schools and middle
school vocal music and musical theater at Vista Verde. She is a
staff singer with the Pacific Chorale, director of the Pacific Chorale
Girl's Chorus, and former Director of Education for the Pacific Chorale.
Her hobbies include country dancing, walking and physical fitness. Brad VanPatten
- Brad Van Patten is the Director of Instrumental Music at Northwood
High School. Mr. Van Patten has a Masters of Arts degree in Music
Education, and he wrote his master's thesis on "A Model Curriculum
for a Secondary High School Instrumental Music Program Implementing the
National Standards for Arts Education." He is a lecturer at
CSULB in music education classes for undergraduate and graduate students. Derek Venlet
- Associate director at Irvine High School Jennifer Webb - Theater and Dance at Irvine High School
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