Teachers and administrators who inspire students to be creative and work towards unlocking their potential through arts education will be honored at the 2024 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators — or OCMAA — Awards Ceremony on Feb. 27.
The reception and awards ceremony will take place at the Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Educators, students and those who support the arts can register to attend the event by visiting this link. Although attendance is free, seating is limited.
For more than 30 years, the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators, in partnership with the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, have presented the Orange County Music and Arts Educators Awards.
This annual event recognizes exceptional leadership and arts instruction within each of the five arts disciplines for individual elementary and secondary educators. Additionally, it honors supportive administrators, community arts advocates, a classroom teacher and the Arts in Special Education Award.
Founded by the Orange County Department of Education, OCMAA stands as an active coalition of school districts, community arts organizations, parents and business leaders. Together, they collaborate to ensure a high-quality, inclusive, accessible and equitable arts education for every child.
With an overwhelming number of submissions this year, the coalition is thrilled to announce 72 exceptional nominees, reflecting the incredible depth and breadth of talent within the arts education community in Orange County.
“The Orange County Music and Arts Awards is the premier recognition for Orange County’s outstanding arts educators and is highly regarded within the community for its recognition of quality instructional service,” Scott Fitzpatrick, OCDE’s arts coordinator, said.
“Thanks to the additional sponsorship of multiple other arts organizations, we are grateful to announce that this special event will be free of charge to all attendees. Please join me in celebrating these leaders in arts education here in Orange County!”
OCMAA takes great pride in presenting the upcoming ceremony, bolstered by the support of an expanding roster of sponsors.
For those unable to attend the ceremony, here’s the full list of the 2024 Orange County Music and Arts Award recipients:
- Kristine Calder, Capistrano Unified School District – Secondary Dance
- Athena Reyes, Saddleback Valley Unified School District – Elementary Instrumental Music
- Jennifer Garcia, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District – Secondary Instrumental Music
- Cassie Olah, Santa Ana Unified School District – Elementary Vocal Music
- David Joseph, Garden Grove Unified School District – Secondary Vocal Music
- Breanne Pagano, Lowell Joint School District – Elementary Theater
- Susan Lord, Saddleback Valley Unified School District – Secondary Theater
- Alicia Parker, Irvine Unified School District – Elementary Visual Art
- Kimberly Johnson, La Habra City School District – Secondary Visual Art
- Nathan Boice, Tustin Unified School District – Media Arts
- Christy Hernandez, Huntington Beach Union High School District – Arts in Special Education
- Suzanne Fauria, Garden Grove Unified School District – Juliana McGrath Elementary Classroom
- Sam Perla, Santa Ana Unified School District – Elementary Administrator
- Amy Sabol, Huntington Beach Union High School District – Secondary Administrator
- Stacy Robison, Huntington Beach Union High School District – District Administrator
- Phil Mortensen, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District – OCMAA Administrator
- Talena Mara, Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Orange County Arts Advocate
- Save the Music, Anaheim Elementary School District – Arts Advocate
- The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Orange County Arts Advocate
- Donald Funk, Newport-Mesa Unified School District – Irene Schoepfle Lifetime Achievement Award for Music
For questions about Orange County Music and Arts Administrators, contact OCDE Coordinator Scott Fitzpatrick at stfitzpatrick@ocde.us.