Guests gather for a reception at the Samueli Theater before the start of the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards ceremony. 
Alan Huizar of the La Habra City School District stands with his family during the reception at the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards. Huizar’s artwork was featured on the event program and recipient certificates, and he was recognized during the ceremony. 
Alan Huizar of the La Habra City School District and Genesis Reyes of the Huntington Beach Union High School District stand with Trish Walsh, OCDE’s administrator of humanities. Both students were recognized for their artwork, which was featured on the event program and recipient certificates. 
Jennifer Garcia, a music teacher from the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, and her advanced orchestra students take a bow after their performance at the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards ceremony. 
Tim Nelson of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, recipient of the Jim Thomas Exemplary Achievement Award for Theatre, poses with Jim Thomas, OCDE’s former coordinator of visual and performing arts, for whom the award is named. 
Attendees of the 2025 OCMAA Awards gather inside the Samueli Theater to celebrate arts educators, administrators and advocates.
Under the glow of stage lights at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Samueli Theater, educators, administrators and arts advocates took center stage Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrators Awards.
Hosted by the Orange County Department of Education and in partnership with the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the annual awards reception and ceremony recognized 63 nominees for their contributions to arts education in the county.
For more than 30 years, this collaboration has honored top music and arts educators and administrators while fostering partnerships among school districts, community arts organizations, parents and business leaders to ensure all students have access to high-quality arts education. Honorees were celebrated for their leadership and excellence in dance, music, theater, visual arts, media arts and arts advocacy.
“The intent of the OCMAA Awards is to recognize leadership that impacts first the site, then the district and then the broader community in the area of Arts Education,” said Scott Fitzpatrick, arts coordinator for OCDE. “I hope that the recognition that was given will serve to encourage them in their work and inspire others to follow their example.”
The ceremony also honored three administrators and two advocates for their positive impact on staff and students. Additionally, the Irene Schoepfle Lifetime Achievement Award for Music was presented to Joslynne Blasdel of the Irvine Unified School District, while the Jim Thomas Exemplary Achievement Award for Theatre went to Tim Nelson of the Huntington Beach Union High School District.
Student artists also took center stage, with artwork by Alan Huizar of the La Habra City School District and Genesis Reyes of the Huntington Beach Union High School District featured on the event program and recipient certificates. Trish Walsh, OCDE’s administrator of humanities, recognized both students during the ceremony.
“The crowd erupted in applause in celebration of these two talented young artists and it was a great moment to recognize that the people who were celebrated at the awards ceremony all share a common dedication to the young people they serve,” Fitzpatrick said.
For a complete list of this year’s nominees, click here. Without further ado, here are the 2025 Orange County Music and Arts Administrator Award recipients:
- Carmel Gabriel, Garden Grove Unified School District – Secondary Dance
- James Raneri, Santa Ana Unified School District – Elementary Instrumental Music
- Dan Robbins, Saddleback Valley Unified School District – Secondary Instrumental Music
- Lindsie Hardy, Santa Ana Unified School District – Elementary Vocal Music
- Adrian Rangel-Sanchez, Irvine Unified School District – Secondary Vocal Music
- Sarah Winant, Santa Ana Unified School District – Elementary Theater
- Rich Marting, Santa Ana Unified School District – Secondary Theater
- Renee Weitzel, Capistrano Unified School District – Elementary Visual Art
- Rick Blake, Orange Unified School District – Secondary Visual Art
- Gigi Manning, Tustin Unified School District – Secondary Media Arts
- Brenda Fausto, Santa Ana Unified School District – Arts in Special Education
- Amy Emerzian, Garden Grove Unified School District – Juliana McGrath Elementary Classroom
- Na-Young Shin, Garden Grove Unified School District – Teacher on Special Assignment
- Hek Valdez, Huntington Beach Union High School District – Arts Advocate
- Tustin Area Council of Fine Arts, Tustin Unified School District – Arts Community Partnership Award
- Kimberly Snowden, Irvine Unified School District – School Site Administrator
- Joe Carmona, Anaheim Union High School District – District Administrator
- Frank Donavan, Ed.D., Magnolia School District – District Administrator
- Joslynne Blasdel, Irvine Unified School District – Irene Schoepfle Lifetime Achievement Award for Music
- Tim Nelson, Huntington Beach Union High School District – Jim Thomas Exemplary Achievement Award for Theatre