From a pool of 721 nominees, seven talented students were selected as this year’s Orange County Artists of the Year.
From film to fine arts, artists from seven different disciplines are nominated annually by their teachers, according to the Orange County Register. The high school students then compete through numerous rounds of judging, submitting performance videos, art portfolios and film samples and taking part in in-person interviews.
The program run by the Orange County Register launched in 2014 to recognize high school students for their hard work and contributions made to their communities through the arts.
“By shining a light on the talent and artistry of our top students every year, we are not only celebrating them and giving them the push to continue their artistic pursuits,” program producer Heide Janssen told the Register, “but we are also, hopefully, highlighting the quality of the work being taught in the arts programs throughout the county.”
The program finalists will have the opportunity to showcase their skills at an awards ceremony at Chapman University at 5:30 p.m. on May 10. The public is invited to attend.
The 2023 Artist of the Year winners are:
- Dance, Jonah Smith, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Film and TV, Magdalena Aparicio, Yorba Linda High School
- Vocal Music, Adrianna Tapia, Santa Ana High School
- Instrumental Music, Lucie Kim, Orange County High School of the Arts
- Fine Arts, Alexandra Hernandez, Costa Mesa High School
- Theater, Selma Elbalalesy, Aliso Niguel High School
- Media Arts, Zachary Cramer, Fountain Valley High School
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Relive the moment six Orange County educators found out they were named the 2024 Teachers of the Year during a surprise visit from OCDE representatives, camera crews and award sponsors.
- Personal essays and artwork illustrating students’ gratitude for veterans were recognized in the ninth annual Jack R. Hammett Memorial Day Essay Contest organized by the Orange County Board of Education.
- On May 1, eight schools in Orange County were recognized for their campus-wide achievements in civics by California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero.
- OCDE students in the Adult Transition Program at Golden West College recently took home awards — with the help of three chickens — at the OC Fair’s Imaginology.
- A boutique fully stocked with clothes, shoes and baby products opened Wednesday to all Westminster School District families — free of charge.
- After months of designing, Laguna Beach High School art students created a pop-up floral mural and photo opportunity that will be on display to the public through May 6.
- Fourth-graders at Iva Meairs Elementary School will learn to hit and catch a baseball over the next seven weeks with the help of Los Angeles Angels RBI League President Dave Smith as part of the team’s RBI League on the Go program.
- The NAMM Foundation named seven local school districts among the Best Communities for Music Education for their commitment to supporting student arts programs.
- The Orange County Register reported that a new bill, supported by Senator Josh Newman, would enact a 30-day cooling off period following school board elections in order to prevent the termination of district administrators without cause.
- Assembly member Phil Ting has proposed a bill increasing the monthly amount of housing support for foster care youth in California.
- The Orange County Classical Academy is looking to expand its charter program with a new high school campus at a local district, the Register reported.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.