Vocal music nominees – Orange County Register

The following 104 students have been nominated for the 2023 Artist of the Year in vocal music by teachers and private instructors at Orange County high schools and arts organizations.

This arts discipline has been divided into three specialties: classical voice, cultural and commercial voice, and musical theater voice. Semifinalists in each specialty will be chosen by a panel of vocal music teachers and announced on April 23 at ocregister.com.

The nominees are listed with an endorsement from their nominating teacher and a link to the student’s work.

CLASSICAL VOICE

Mia Baron

“Mia is an incredibly talented performer, and a bright and friendly colleague.  She has always been a precocious young musician, who has been able to take on challenging music, and make it sound natural in her vocalism, character and general performance aesthetic. …She enters every experience with a humorous approach that belies a fierce desire to achieve and earn the approval of her teachers and coaches through hard work and attention to detail.” – Ryan Reithmeier, Orange County School of the Arts

Sergio Bocanegra

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“Sergio has always had a love of music. He came to me as a rapper and independent artist, but he has grown into a well-rounded musician the past three years. Sergio created a student band that has done very well. They have performed at various events on and off campus. Sergio has great versatility in his voice. He can sing in pop, rock, classical, beat-boxing, and rap. I ultimately chose to nominate him in the classical voice because I know he would appreciate the challenge to continue his growth as a future singer and music educator.” — Amanda Mitton, Garden Grove High School

Paityn Bowen

“Paityn is one of my all time favorite students.  She is a hard worker, also going above and beyond to make sure she is prepared and produces the best product she possibly can.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Noelle Bulis

“I have had the honor of being Noelle’s voice teacher since she was eleven years old. Even at a very young age, Noelle has always had a keen understanding of the kind of music she enjoys singing, and she infuses thoughtfulness and artistry into her pieces. She is innately musical and she truly has a natural ability for expressing herself through her voice. Noelle’s talents lie beyond her love of singing classical music. She is devoted to her church and shares her gift of song with them on the worship team.” — Melissa Lyons Caldretti, private instruction

Allen Cai

“Allen is compassionate, and highly organized. He is a consummate professional, energizing the smallest phrase or delving fully into the complete picture of a song with a rich and beautiful baritone voice. …When Allen sings, all around him are surprised, since he is a quiet young gentleman. The response is always great joy in hearing such a rich depth of tone.” — Chris Winn, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Dagny Canzoneri

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“Dagny has the kind of natural talent others can only hope for. To be in the room when Dagny performs, sharing her talent, vocal skill, and heart is inspiring to all who hear her. She sings with beautify, skill, freedom, and passion. She has studied and crafted her skill with dedication and hard work equal to her amazing talent. It is a pleasure and joy to watch her dedicate her energy and time to grow and develop her voice.” — Jodi Reed, Mater Dei High School

Selma Elbalalesy

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“Selma has been my vocal student since she was in sixth grade. Even at that young age, her vocal ability was evident.  She has consistently demonstrated excellent singing technique in classical choral music, jazz, gospel, and other styles.  She is also and exceptional pianist and works hard to improve herself as a musician in all areas of study.” — Jason Harney, Aliso Niguel High School

Austin Elkins

“He has a lovely mature voice, I see great potential for future development. He is one of my go to soloists, he is right on the money all of the time. He will be singing at the Sydney Opera House this summer as part of the Honors Performance Series.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Melody Hancock

“Melody has a very unique passion for music. She has been singing in choral ensembles since a young age, and she continues to sing in multiple ensembles currently. She is a great leader in our ensembles, has been a featured soloist on several occasions, and is always working hard to help the rest of the students in her choir succeed. She is a dedicated hard worker whose passion for music rubs off on other students.” — Keith Hancock, Tesoro High School

Madison Heinle

“Madison is a talented mezzo-soprano, and a sight-reading machine with a level of musicianship and musicality usually found in college graduates. She is thoughtful in her artistic choices, and is meticulous in her detailed work ethic.  Madison has such a love for music that even though she studied hard to be a neurosurgeon in the future, she specifically looked for colleges that offer a high level of vocal music opportunities along with academics.” — Stacey Kikkawa, Fullerton Union High School

Alexandra Louise Holbrook

“Ally is a vivacious and beautiful soul. She has a great ability to thrill any audience with her rich soprano voice. Audiences of all musical tastes are immediately fascinated by Ally’s depth of tone. There is a gorgeous kernel of tone that is consistent from the bottom to the top of her extensive range. This richness is beautiful in operatic arias and is even more uniquely suited for beautifully finessed art song. Ali’s warm voice is imbued with her personal sensitivity.” — Chris Winn, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Grace Huynh

“Grace is a beautiful singer with a round, blooming instrument, which I’ve heard grow incredibly since she joined our conservatory community. In that time, I’ve observed her take advantage of every opportunity to stretch and grow outside of her comfort zone and become a leader among her colleagues through her attractive singing voice, attention to detail, and willingness to be a leader where she is needed. The trajectory of her growth has been nothing short of amazing, as she has grown to take on challenging classical music.” — Ryan Reithmeier, Orange County School of the Arts

Luke Ippolito

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“This is Luke’s first year in choir and he has been a great contribution both as a singer and as a member of our community overall.  He always has a smile on his face and has a positive attitude.  He has a nice tenor range and learns his harmonies and auditions for solos and always does a great job on the solos he performs either in class or in our concerts.  Everyone in class likes Luke because he’s an all-around nice guy.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Joshua Knight

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“Joshua wonderfully contributes as a young artist to the ensemble and choral music program. Joshua is a very talented individual who continually excels in his music studies and accepts challenges with open arms. It has been a joy as his choir director to watch Josh’s transformation in his studies and dedication to the art itself and creating music.” — Katie Villarreal, El Dorado High School

Madeline Lange

“She is a focused individual who has been working on her craft since before high school. … Madeline truly has bloomed into a beautiful soprano who not only has the vocal technique, but has a high level of interpretation and responsiveness during her performances. Madeline is consistently asked to sing solos with short notice as a reliable and trustworthy artist.” — Stacey Kikkawa, Fullerton Union High School

Lilliana Mindel

“She possesses a flexible and sizable soprano voice, which she uses to communicate with deep clarity and firm conviction. Each time I have the opportunity to coach her, it feels as though I were working with a graduate student who is growing into their body. Moreover, she is a calm and mindful student, who shows care for all of her colleagues, and teachers alike. This sense of awareness for others has really established Lilliana’s reputation as a leader within her peer group, and as someone who can always be counted on by her instructors.” — Ryan Reithmeier, Orange County School of the Arts

Daphne Moyes

“Even as a freshman in our high school program, she quickly rose to a level above many of her peers, earning solos and features, one after another, utilizing raw vocal talent. … It is clear from the moment that Daphne begins to glide a tone that her vocal quality ascends beyond that of the average teenaged performer — there is something in her rich tone that garners a strength and wisdom equal to that of a seasoned veteran in the vocal world.” — Tim Nelson, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Sebastian Nunez

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“Sebastian is a marvelous young singer, whose passion for music is clearly communicated whenever he is on stage. His peers and instructors alike know that they can rely on Sebastian to be prepared, on time and ready to present at any time. Beyond his performance skills, Sebastian is a kind and considerate colleague and student. I’ve seen him mindfully approach every situation with thoughtfulness and awareness of the greater impacts of his choices beyond his own experience.” — Ryan Reithmeier, Orange County School of the Arts

Bridget O’Donnell

“She not only has a great voice, but shows exemplary leadership and musicianship as our alto section leader. On top of that she is a great piano player and has accompanied herself during class and in our concerts. She always has a great attitude and is a pleasure to have in class.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Octaviano Roges IV

“Octi is also a bright part of every rehearsal. I am completely impressed with Octi’s strong work ethic, his ability to listen, hear, and implement valuable information during every rehearsal. Octi honestly and carefully internalizes suggested techniques, but then turns attention to his fellow singers to help them musically, emotionally, and spiritually!” — Chris Winn, Santa Margarita Catholic High School

Viveka Saravanan

“Viveka is a young lady with a very lovely soprano voice. She has shown herself to be an especially excellent and enthusiastic student. She is very motivated and it is not an exaggeration to say that she has won almost every competition she has entered. …She has shown herself to be a leader in many areas. She is co-president of Artingual, a student-run organization which strives to improve youth literacy through artistic elements, and was a classical singer arts instructor 2022. She is continually looking for new ways to help others.” — Kathleen Martin, private instruction

Shruti Singh

“Shruti is an amazing classical vocalist. She not only sings well, she sight-reads and is a good friend and mentor to others. … Shruti’s voice has blown me away since my first day of meeting her. She auditioned with the song ‘O mio babbino caro,’ a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi. She is able to carry so much meaning behind her voice.” — Hollie Jones, Cypress High School

Nakshatra Srinivasan

“Naksha is a leader in our program. She is a member of our advanced choir, Irvine Singers and the after school a cappella ensemble, Coordinated Chaos. Naksha studies voice in the classical style as well as in her cultural Indian style of singing. She has performed and competed in many shows and competitions.Naksha is also a member of our chapter of TRI-M, National Music Honor society. She is an exceptional young person. A self starter and a mentor to other students.” — Tina Peterson, Irvine High School

Benjamin Thai

“Though he is being nominated for the discipline of Classical Voice he is especially versatile and excels in many styles of vocal disciplines. Ben is especially talented vocally, frequently a soloist on and off campus, in shows, productions, and choral works. He consistently stands out as one of the most talented and hardworking of any program he is a part of.” — Jodi Reed, Mater Dei High School

Julia Tonai

“Julia Tonai is one of the most intelligent, talented, humble, and mature students I have ever had in my teaching career. It has been my absolute joy to watch her become the artist that she is now. I value students who are characters with character. She is an exceptionally gifted performer while being intuitively expressive and technically sound. She is mature beyond her years and has always been the model of what I believe the ideal high school student should be.” — Michael Ushino, San Juan Hills High School

Lauren Trustee

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“Lauren is an incredibly intelligent and well-rounded musician, serving in leadership roles in our choral department, but also in our instrumental music department. She has picked up new instruments, learned new skills, and is constantly working to better herself as a musician. She excels in classical music, but has also had success in other styles of music.” — Keith Hancock, Tesoro High School

Genevieve Velarde

“Not only does Genevieve have a future in classical voice, she has the character and will be an inspiration for those in the future who wish to pursue the performing arts. Genevieve has a desire to support young children in their pursuit of theater/arts. Throughout the year, she volunteers at local schools coaching elementary kids in voice and acting.” — Milena Kitic, private instruction

Rynn Wood

“Rynn has an incredible gift of musicality and she learns music very quickly; she can conquer the intricacies of a Handel aria in just a few days. She is constantly striving for excellence in her musical studies, and new pieces are always approached with thoughtfulness and an educated perspective. Furthermore, Rynn receives direction and adjustments with maturity and a willingness to learn and improve. … Rynn has a quiet strength about her and she invests her whole self in her practice and in her performance work. She is a humble artist and I believe she doesn’t yet understand the greatness of which she is capable.” — Melissa Lyons Caldretti, private instruction

Jeffrey Yang

“It is a pleasure to recommend Jeffrey Yang. He is a serious and hard working young man who learns very quickly and has a lovely baritone voice. … Jeffrey is quite a Renaissance man at this young age. He is an excellent student,  a talented, motivated, and responsible young man who is loved and respected by all.” — Kathleen Martin, private instruction

CULTURAL and COMMERCIAL  VOICE

Aileen Aguilar

“She has a remarkable voice!  Platinum album-winning potential! In addition to her amazing talent, she is kind and humble. Aileen is hardworking and a team player. Everytime she sings a solo in one of our shows the audience always goes wild!” — Janae Morales, John F. Kennedy High School

Alissa Aguilar

“She has participated as a lead in various productions as a dancer, singer, actress, audio engineer, and choreographer. Alissa is one of the hardest working students we have in our choral program. She’s able to initiate and lead rehearsals with her peers outside of choir rehearsals.  She is a wonderful role model for the rest of her classmates. As Alissa ’s choir teacher, I’ve watched her grow these past few years into an outstanding and dedicated musician.” — Yesenia Navarro Garcia, Santa Ana High School

Joseph Arambula

“Joe Arambula jumped in at the last minute to join our choir program when he heard we were singing music from ‘Hamilton’ and proved that he already had the whole soundtrack memorized. Fast-forward to today and he has been elected the vice president of choir and is in my advanced ensemble and is the tenor section leader. His talent and leadership has exceeded my expectations and I still have him for another year!  His peers all love him and he brings a huge boost of positive energy to the class.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Samantha Babasa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcJnZ0

“Sam is enthusiastic in everything that she sets her mind to do. When she talks about music, her eyes light up, her voice gets louder, and so much passion comes out of her. … She writes music, covers music, and sings with a unique style that puts her own stamp on everything she performs.” — Keith Hancock, Tesoro High School

Sam Bikov

“Sam has a true musical gift that needs to be shared with the world. His performance in “Les Miserables” this fall as Jean Val Jean was so moving that he received a standing ovation during every show. His versatile vocal stylings are reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra mixed with the soulful vibe of John Legend.” — David Moellenkamp, Los Alamitos High School

Bianca Bork

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“Bianca has been an integral part of Beckman’s choral program for 4 years. She has grown as a performer, leader, and choir enthusiast. Absolutely one of my top singers, Bianca has shown a willingness and capability to perform at top level at any time, any where. I can rely on her to lead rehearsal, sing the National Anthem at last minute request from community events, perform in every and all opportunities.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Abigail Braun

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“Abigail Braun is one of the most thoughtful, intelligent and passionate singer-songwriters I have been honored to teach in my past 20 years as a music educator. She works incredibly hard at each component — writing lyrics that are incredibly personal yet still very relatable, crafting melodic and harmonic material that is interesting and sometimes unexpected, and also honing her technique as a singer to communicate her message through an instrument that is versatile, flexible and simply beautiful.” — Mark Myers, Esperanza High School

Simone Marie Carroll

“Simone is a multitalented performer and artist with incredible drive and perseverance. Not only does she excel as a well-rounded vocalist, she is also skilled at piano, bass, and guitar. She is an experienced songwriter with creative ideas that embody a modern sound with profound musicality. She willingly volunteers to take on extra projects and roles in our department such as student choreographer and costume designer for our main stage productions.” — Nicole Kubis, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Alyssa Castellano

“She is a wonderful artist whose skills go beyond performing as our principal second violin in the full symphony. Alyssa is a versatile musician who has also been featured as a vocalist with the symphony orchestra at Capistrano Valley High school. In addition to performing at school, she is a member of her church choir, and has performed competitively in international a capella competitions.” — Andreas Waldukat, Capistrano Valley High School

Ahlana Renee Cobarrubias

“Ahlana is a hard-working, motivated, and dedicated person. From the first time I saw her sing, I knew instantly she had a gift. I approached her as a Sophomore and encouraged her to join choir. She instantly fell in love with choir and I have been blessed to see her grow these past few years.” — Amanda Mitton, Garden Grove High School

Leah Cook

“Leah Cook is one of the most singularly gifted jazz vocalist that I have ever taught in my career. She innately understands the art form and spends all of her time finding new artists to study. She is a immensely talented vocalist and is surgical in how she approaches every note that she sings. She is incredibly expressive and works incredibly hard at her craft.” — Michael Ushino, San Juan Hills High School

Bel Cope

“Bel is a terrific musician, whether in band or choir, she has a great musicality. She plays guitar and sings her own songs, they are sophisticated pieces that can really make you think. She won the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA), in the song writing category. Her topic of ‘Reflections on the Pandemic’ was thought provoking and just plain beautiful. Since then she has done a lot of community events for TACFA including a Veterens Day concert, the Tustin Artwalk (two times) and Music in the Parks.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Marvelle Jamari Figueroa

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“Marvelle excels as a performer in every way. She leads with humility, and when she steps on stage and begins singing an entire concert hall becomes pin-drop silent, captivated by her performance. I have seen disinterested audiences become enthralled when she performs. In addition, Marvelle is a pleasure to work with at all times.” — Jodi Reed, Mater Dei High School

Ella Gibson

“I have witnessed Ella grow in such amazing ways. She came in as a quiet musical theatre singer and is now crushing it as all genres vocalist! I have so much respect for her work ethic and passion. She would represent everything I would hope as a popular music graduate. Just last night I hosted an original showcase for a small record label and I invited the student body to sign up for a spot. Ella was the first student to put her name on the list, which says a lot! She is always gracefully leading the group, never worrying about what others think.” — Natasha Pasternak, Orange County School of the Arts

Nicolas Charles Hartog

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“Nick is so talented and has a huge heart for singing and sharing his music with others. I will never forget the first time he auditioned for me. He was so unsure of his vocal abilities. The moment he started singing, I was blown away by his talent and couldn’t believe how humble he was! Since that time, Nick has grown immensely as a singer. However, his humble heart has remained the same. He is always willing to try new songs and is always grateful for every opportunity presented to him.” — Megan Carvale, Orange Lutheran High School

Wendolyne Herrera

“I believe Wendolyne Herrera is an Artist of the Year for not only her talent, but her dedication to vocal music. … She always comes to class with a positive attitude and a focus of service. Since our choir had become so small, we decided to make our advanced group a jazz choir last year, where she has really found her passion. She enjoys learning jazz standards and is beginning to improvise.” — Jill DeWeese, Buena Park High School

Kyleah Jackson

“Kyleah Jackson is an outstanding student and vocalist. I have had the pleasure of observing and working with Kyleah for four years. … She is extremely talented as a solo artist and group member always catching onto harmony quickly.  She knows how to work with other vocalist to sound amazing. Kyleah works incredibly hard, and is dedicated to each commitment she takes on.” — Janae Morales, John F. Kennedy High School

Raveena Khetarpal

“Raveena is a very unique student who only comes along once in a blue moon. She has so many gifts — acting, singing, writing stories, and composing music. She recently performed at an open mic night showcasing her amazing singing-songwriting talents.  In addition to her passion and talents for music, Raveena has proven to be a true leader amongst her peers.” — Ella Wyatt, San Clemente High School

Aidan Lauron

“Aidan is a very creative musician and has one of the most unique voices I’ve had the chance to work with. As a performer and singer, he is not afraid to be real with the emotion. Aidan always performs with confidence and expression that sets him apart from other performers. He isn’t afraid to make his performances his own and add vocal runs, alternative stylings, or accompany himself on piano.” — Molly Gooch, Brea Olinda High School

Jillianna Le

“Jillianna Le is exceptionally talented, creative, humble, kind, hardworking, inclusive, and thoughtful. She absolutely lights up the stage and captivates her audience through the amount of heart and dedication she pours into each project. Watching her work and perform is an inspiration to all those around her. Her leadership exceeds that of most who have walked through our doors, as does her talent, work ethic and vocal abilities.” — Jodi Reed, Mater Dei High School

Raaga Mahesh

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“Learning from me since as a young kid, I have seen Raaga grow and mature into a young artist. Indian classical music is not easy. With its tradition of complicated notes and lyrics, this music requires patience and dedication, both of which I have seen in Raaga. She understands the nuances that I try to bring out in every learning session. She tries to get the intricate music patterns and loves to rise to the challenge of singing them effortlessly.” — Babu Parameswaran, private instruction

Namrata Manikandan

“Namrata Manikandan is a once-in-a-career student. She has grown immensely over the last five years. She has a background in classical Indian music, which makes her pitch impeccable, and uses notes not typically heard in western music that adds a beautiful nuance to her embellishments. She studies her craft yet sounds effortless when performing.” — Megan Arthurton, Valencia High School

Isabella Mills

“If I had to come up with a couple words to describe her it would be this: Renaissance woman. She is talented in so many areas: not only is she an inspiring vocalist, but she’s also a visual artist, she’s a gifted writer, and she’s an actress. And, probably most importantly — she loves to learn and create and perform.” — Jon Lindfors, Costa Mesa High School

Donya Moaddeli

“Donya Moaddeli is an extremely talented singer-songwriter and performer.  Donya has an incredibly unique tone and style to her voice that is captivating to listen to.  In addition, Donya accompanies herself on guitar and piano beautifully.  Her enthusiasm for life and learning, her dedication, her passion for excellence in music, her leadership and maturity, her sense of humor, and her sweet, caring, and outgoing personality make Donya the great person that she is.” – Ray Medina, Dana Hills High School

Jamie Nguyen

“Kind hearted, generous Jamie is the epitome of what a young artist should strive to become. As our.vocal captain and president of our choi she leads with grace and passes on her musician skills.  The choir members want to live up to her standards for the choir. She has the ability to master every style with grace and ease. With every note she sings she makes this world a more beautiful place to live.” — David Moellenkamp, Los Alamitos High School

Hannah Norman

“Hannah is humble and is always reaching, always improving. Wanting to get better at jazz, she is learning to scat, a skill not easy to do, and she is always on the hunt for performance opportunities. She recently won an online singing contest to sing a duet with Avi Kaplan (the original bass from Pentatonix) at a concert on his recent tour. She sang and handled herself like a pro, and he gushed over her spirit and voice after the song was through.” — Rob Blaney, University High School

Kiera Reale

“Kiera participates often in various songwriting, recording, and vocal arranging projects, as well as major productions and professional gigs. She is knowledgeable and proficient in various vocal styles, ranging from classical to pop. …Aside from her high level of competency in her broad range of skills, Kiera is truly a team player and a leader for her fellow peers and staff. She is organized, responsible, and trustworthy. She sets an example of kindness and professionalism that has raised our program to another level.” — Nicole Kubis, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Eliza Yesenia Rodriguez

“Eliza has a beautiful voice that lends itself to a variety of styles including classical, jazz and pop. Most of her experience as a soloist is performing pop or R & B music. Eliza has been very active in our vocal ensemble and auditions for solos for every concert.” — Jill DeWeese, Buena Park High School

Jacob Sanders

“Jacob sings with more passion and more heart than most. He gives his all and leaves every part of himself onstage when performing.  He emmanates so much emotion and joy, giving so much to those in the audience. He also exudes an incredible amount of natural leadership to those around him.” — Jodi Reed, Mater Dei High School

Jacob Logan Schiffman

“When he’s not singing Justin Bieber covers or working the audience into a frenzy at a concert, he is writing and recording his own music. Jacob is perhaps unusually humble for an up-and-coming pop star, relying on his best friend and sister Chloe (a sophomore) to let us know when his single has dropped. While many high school students are content to spend hours playing video games or mindlessly scrolling, Jacob is living a double life; high school student by day, in the recording studio pursuing his career by night.” — Rob Blaney, University High School

Callie Schmidt

“Callie is a superstar. She shines bright on stage and brings a special approach to all the music she performs. As her teacher I have witnessed miracles occur in our classroom because of her outreach and leadership. The soprano section emulates her tone quality and style in every phrase.” — David Moellenkamp, Los Alamitos High School

Preston Schmidt

“Preston has a natural talent that has been wowing our audiences for years. He never sings a song exactly how it is written. In fact, that is one of my favorite things about Preston’s artistry: He always adds unique runs or takes the song to a new, unexpected place. He makes every song “his own”! Preston has also truly grasped the idea of using his voice to bless those around him.” — Megan Carvale, Orange Lutheran High School

Mersaydes Soria

“This is my first year working with Mersyades as she has spent her time here playing violin in the orchestra. She recently discovered just how much she loves performing classical vocal music in an ensemble and I believe this has awakened her own, naturally beautiful pop/jazz voice. She has a strength to her tone that she uses very well to emote text and overall expression of her solos. You can also hear a confidence in her tone that many high school aged performers struggle with. She is fearless in her song selection (no matter the difficulty) as well as on stage.” — Erin Girard, Capistrano Valley High School

Gabriel Tiscareno

“Gabe has an amazing voice and has used it to enhance the choir program here at Capo for several years now. He is selected for solos often as he has a lovely tone, but also exhibits great control particularly when singing harmonies with others. Gabe surprised me this year when he invited his entire student-run Mariachi group to perform for our international winter concert! It was a concert highlight for sure!” — Erin Girard, Capistrano Valley High School

Carla Valencia

“As Carla’s choir teacher, I’ve watched her grow these past few years into an outstanding and dedicated performer. She is a standout at all our performances. Her personality and drive to be a high achiever is something that I love about her. She has a bright future ahead of her and I know that whatever she puts her mind to she will be able to achieve it.” — Yesenia Navarro Garcia, Santa Ana High School

Natalia Vassilian

“Talia has a voice and a stage presence that commands attention. She exudes such confidence as a performer, songwriter, and musician, and she is keenly aware of the kind of artist she is and who she wants to be.  Her songwriting is quite advanced and mature for her age, and this is coupled with an insane vocal ability.” — Keith Hancock, Tesoro High School

Amadri White

“Amadri has been in my choral program for over a year now and has thrived ever since. They always bring lots of fun energy to my class and people are always smiling around them. They are a solid member of the alto section and have done a great job singing solos in my open mic concerts in the past.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Karina Yousuf

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“Karina is definitely a Renaissance woman! She is a scholar, a leader, and actress … but I believe she has a special place in her heart for vocal performance. As a huge fan of Taylor Swift, you can hear that particular vocal influence in Karina’s pop voice. She has a strong tone, a lovely vibrato, and a wonderful way of expressing text through tone and physical expression! She is seemingly very comfortable and confident on stage which also helps put the audience at ease.” — Erin Girard, Capistrano Valley High School

Gabriella Zuniga

“Gabriella Zuniga is the definition of hard work. Any problem that she may encounter, whether it’s vocal technique or anything else, she will work relentlessly at fixing until it is no longer an issue. Her work ethic seldom seen by any person, let alone high schooler. Her voice is immensely flexible and she has been studying classical, jazz, and musical theater in her time in my program.” — Michael Ushino, San Juan Hills High School

MUSICAL THEATER VOICE

Audrey Almeida

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“Audrey Almeida is a well-rounded performer, artist and community member in our school. She truly understands that music and theatre can change people’s lives for the better — not only her audiences’ lives, but the lives of her fellow singers and actors. She is driven to excel and to reach the highest levels of performance, but not just for her own desires and goals. Audrey continuously pushes others around her in the best ways.” — Mark Myers, Esperanza High School

Logan Atkinson

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“Logan is such an intuitive performer — they have taken their high school vocal and acting  training and applied it to their solo performance without formal individual coaching. Logan is so good at transferring skills from one area of rehearsal to other aspects of performance without obvious direction from a voice teacher. That being said, Logan has such untapped potential because when an adult does give a direction, they will immediately attempt to apply it or diligently work on it during and after rehearsal.” — Stacey Kikkawa, Fullerton Union High School

Charity Bielicki

“She is truly a director’s performer, and her attention to detail on a project makes her the kind of actor every director wants in their cast. On the human side, Charity is lovely, kind hearted and courteous to her fellow performers and always willing to go ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ in order to produce the highest quality results. … Her professionalism and care on projects have awarded her imaginative adaptive approaches to performance tactics during the pandemic, which has been compiling for a young performer!” — Tim Nelson, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Lauren Bodnar

“Lauren Bodnar is an outstanding musician and a gifted performer.  She sings with beauty and sensitivity as she captivates her audience with her voice and presence. Further, Lauren earned a spot in the regional honor choir and All-State honor choir with one of the top scores in the state. … Lauren is always working to improve her vocal ability and musicianship and encourages her peers to do the same.  I have witnessed Lauren grow over the past four years and am so proud of the musician and person she has become.” — Ray Medina, Dana Hills High School

Anastasia Davi

“Anastasia is one of the hardest working students in our school. She brings the most positive and encouraging spirit to a rehearsal and is always the first to be excited for others success. She is overcoming of much adversity in her life and is just an all around great student. Outside of the music world, she is also involved in student leadership and founded the school newspaper!” – Kristi Barnes, Capistrano Valley Christian School

Ethan De La Motta

“Ethan is so passionate about singing and is one of the most genuine performers I have had the pleasure teaching. No matter what song he’s singing, it is guaranteed that the audience will enjoy a wonderfully sung performance with an authentic portrayal of the song. Ethan is happily involved in show choir and musical theater to have more opportunities to sing! To top it all off, Ethan is such a funny and kind individual.” ¯ Molly Gooch, Brea Olinda High School

Chloe Deutschman

“She has a grace and presence on stage that is not matched by most of her peers. She is grounded in her craft and makes you feel comfortable. She has a sweet and velvety voice with clear tone and expansive range that puts you at ease, there is a maturity to her voice that is reminiscent of old. She is eager to learn and explore, constantly striving to be better and do better in the most quietly steadfast way.” — Amelia Barron, Orange County School of the Arts

Carissa Diller

“Carissa Diller has just arrived to Laguna Hills High School this semester, but I am already blown away by her work ethic and talent. … She not only has a great voice, but she brings a great and positive energy to my class. I’m happy she is only a junior so we will have her for another year!” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Matthew Dorfman

“Matthew is everything that we would expect from our singers; committed, well-prepared, ambitious, and always reaching for better. However, in this time of year when some seniors are having onset bouts of ‘senioritis,’ Matthew seems to have doubled down on his practice and performance. In the two years I have known Matthew I have seen him progress to be a better actor, singer, and performer. He doesn’t seem to look back with regret, but forward with hope and optimism about what’s next.” —Rob Blaney, University High School

Catherine Dosier

“Since a young age, Catherine has been blessed with remarkable theatrical sense, but what really sets her apart from the crowd is her voice, dance and gymnastic skills. Her vocal quality and amazing interpretations of songs and story-telling always leaves the audience wanting more. Her athleticism in dance is truly compelling, and add to this with her seasoned acting chops, and she becomes quite a force to be reckoned with.” ¯ Tim Nelson, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Jay Garcia

“Jay Garcia is a superstar. She has been a vital member of our choir program for the past four years. She is currently enrolled in two of our advanced show choirs and is the president of our choir programs. Her comic timing and ability is advanced way beyond her years. … Her artistry is unique and inventive and experiences a live performance of Jay’s will forever be life changing.” — David Moellenkamp, Los Alamitos High School

Annabella Grasso

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“Bella Grasso is unique in the sense that she is so versatile. She is equally at home with musical theater and jazz standards as she is pop solos. Bella is also a very well-rounded musician and a leader in both our choral and drama programs, helping her peers whenever they struggle. Bella has a sense of professionalism, as well as a work ethic that help to elevate the work and dedication of those around her.  Her excitement and enthusiasm for music is why I chose Bella for this recognition.” — Sarah Norris, Mission Viejo High School

Sarah Hentges

“Sarah trained within our ‘junior’ program for young musical theater artists for many years. From her young years to now, Sarah has shown great promise and dedication to her art form. She has trained in vocal music, acting, and modern dance, musical theater dance, and jazz dance to round herself out as a triple threat theater performer. She has shown a vocal talent and skill well beyond her years and shines bright among her peers.” — Tim Nelson, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Michael Herbert

“Michael Herbert (or as we call him Mikey) is an outstanding vocalist who can sing several musical styles. His preferred style is Musical Theater. Mikey can not only sing but can dance as well. He is truly a triple threat in the performing arts (singing, dancing, and acting).” — Janae Morales, John F. Kennedy High School

Barrett Hinojosa

“Barrett Hinojosa just joined my choir program this past year, but I have been working with her since her freshman year and I have seen tremendous growth in her voice and ability to command a stage and an audience.  She has been involved in theatre all three years of her high school experience and has gotten cast in several roles and does an amazing job with every character she portrays.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Mollie Holbrook

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“Mollie is one of our rising stars for musical theater. She has a unique balance of strong independent work ethic and humility. She is a model on how teenagers should receive constructive feedback on how to make their art go to the next level. Mollie is a kind student, who radiates positivity and light, but has the determination and integrity of an aggressive athlete.” — Stacey Kikkawa, Fullerton Union High School

Jocelyn Islas

“She has a great range of performing anything from musicals to popular music and each one allows her to expand her range, runs, registers, and expression. Jocelyn loves to sing and perform and it is evident every time she sings with the choir, in a solo performance, or in an audition. She is incredibly dedicated to her art of singing and performing and is always working hard to be better than she was the day before.” — Molly Gooch, Brea Olinda High School

Haley Kirchhoff

“Haley is one of my star students. She is dedicated to growth and welcomes a challenge. She gracefully receives adjustments and performs corrections with earnest desire for betterment. She is committed to big choices and working outside her comfort zone. She demonstrates deep emotional connection. Her technique has been praised by Broadway performers and coaches from various competitions and camps, but her performance power is in the unique combination of technique, ambition, and heart.” — Michelle Hernandez, private instruction

Anusha Kohli

“She joined choir her freshman year when we were online due to the pandemic. That was probably the worst time to begin, requiring three times the amount of work for a third of the amount of results from both teacher and students. I asked her how she felt about the pandemic choir experience. She said she found in incredibly stressful, but she was determined to make the most of the situation.  Great indication of character and work ethic.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Daisy Kopenhefer

“Daisy Kopenhefer is truly a joy to teach and is an inspiration to all who know her.  I have had the privilege of working with Daisy over the past four years since she joined our drama program. She is an amazing talent with a voice of an angel. She has a beautiful legit soprano voice that soars, and is a gifted actress, dancer, gymnast, and aerialist.  She has a beautiful, clear, and expressive soprano voice. She is a wonderful actress with genuine heart that resonates with all who watch her, and her dancing skills have blessed every one of our musicals since she was a 9th grader.” — Kirsti McCleary, San Clemente High School

Kierstin Laska

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“She not only has a lovely voice, but she shows exemplary leadership as she was elected as the choir president by her peers. She does an outstanding job and definitely takes the job seriously and exceeds my expectations as a teacher. She is incredibly reliable and hard-working and even designs the t-shirts and posters for our shows. Whoever takes over as president will have big shoes to fill next year.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Brock Lichthardt

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“Brock sings with an impressive technique and perhaps, more importantly, a passion for the material. He has a clear desire to learn and arrives at every lesson with a great attitude ready to go to work. He takes direction and more importantly he has the courage and resolve to take chances with his choice of material as well as with acting his choices, pushing himself outside of his comfort zone.” ¯ Michael Berry, private instruction

Christian McCleary

“Christian loves to sing more than any other thing in his life. He constantly humming or singing aloud a musical theater tune. I have been amazed by his growth each and every year in his vocal abilities. …He has a beautiful tenor voice that he uses to sing all styles of music from legit/golden age classics to contemporary musical theater to rock and pop songs that he sings along while he strums his guitar.  But singing musical theater songs is his favorite of all. He is a powerhouse of creativity with unwavering commitment to growing his craft.” – Ella Wyatt, San Clemente High School

Elizabeth Moreno

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“Elizabeth Moreno is one of the most dependable students I have in my choir program. She was elected the secretary of the choir council by her peers. She does so much for our program such as spending time helping to clean and organize the classroom without even be asked to do so. She just goes the extra mile because that’s who she is.” — Jordan Killion, Laguna Hills High School

Clare Adelaide Murphy

“Clare has an amazing gift. I have seen hundreds of students come through this program at OCSA as well as my performing arts studio and none compare to her. Clare has a raw, natural vocal talent that she uses to its fullest in all capacities. Her vocal tone and quality are stellar. Her connection to song and text are unmatched. But most importantly, Clare LOVES what she does and is a joy to work with.” — Charna Lopez, Orange County School of the Arts

Mollie Navarro

“Within each performance she gives, there is always evidence of her creativity and artistic expression through her voice and performance. She never hesitates to make a piece her own by adding in runs, higher notes, and different timbres to her voice in order to make the song as expressive as possible. Mollie’s voice allows her to perform music with immense heart and passion.” — Molly Gooch, Brea Olinda High School

Sydney Parker

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“Sydney’s voice sounds like a modern day Disney princess. She has the ability to belt, and to have beautiful lyrical lines. Sydney is one of the most coachable students in our program — she is adaptable, easy to work with, and quick.” — Stacey Kikkawa, Fullerton Union High School

Akila Rao

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“Akila is a fantastic student who is extremely dedicated to the EDHS Choral music program. … Akila is an incredibly hard working individual who demonstrates grit and determination to overcome challenges and obstacles. She is also a part of the EDHS theatre program as well. Akila continues to rise to any challenge musically and truly excels within the EDHS vocal ensemble or in other performances she is involved in.” — Katie Villarreal, El Dorado High School

Luis Rocha

“As Luis’ choir teacher, I’ve watched him grow into an outstanding and dedicated musician. He is a standout at all our performances. He connects so well with the students in our choir program and is a natural born leader. Luis has a smile for everyone and strives to be a positive influence in every situation. His personality and drive to be a high achiever is something that I love about him.” ¯ Yesenia Navarro Garcia, Santa Ana High School

Himawari Rueff

“Hima is one of my section leaders. She has demonstrated a beautiful spirit as she approaches her participation, both as a class officer and as a singer. She is good at guiding other students, leading warmups, and carrying out various administrative duties.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Sophia Ruiz

“Sophia Ruiz, as a performer and human, is wise beyond her years. She has a grounded gravitas with the eagerness and inquisitive nature of her youth. She is focused and dedicated to the craft that is musical theatre vocal performance.” — Lauren Lim Jackson, Orange County School of the Arts

Maiya Stigall

“Maiya has landed several lead and supporting roles in our musicals here over the last few years (despite the pandemic) and has always delivered! She uses healthy, appropriate tone for each of her characters accordingly; but she excels at light, soprano roles. She has a beautifully sweet, strong tone and wisdom regarding placement (particularly for high notes) beyond her years. She is quite adept at singing in other genres as well making her an absolute vocal asset!” — Erin Girard, Capistrano Valley High School

Adrianna Tapia

“Adrianna has been a wonderful student this school year. During her time at Santa Ana High School, Adrianna has sung in multiple choirs. She is one of the hardest working students we have in our choral program. … After high school, Adrianna is planning to study musical theater and dedicate her life to the performing arts. She connects so well with the students in our choir program and is a natural born leader. She’s able to initiate and lead rehearsals with her peers outside of choir rehearsals. Her personality and drive to be a high achiever is something that I love about her.” — Yesenia Navarro Garcia, Santa Ana High School

Avalyn Walton

“She has been blessed with a keen theatrical sense which adds to her depth of interpretation in songs. She is truly a director’s performer, and her professionalism and care on every project make her the kind of performer every director wants to work with. On the human side, Avi is helpful and courteous to her fellow performers and always willing to go ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ in order to produce the highest quality results.” — Marie Hoffman, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

Kyle Wang

“Kyle is an extremely talented musician. He is new to choir, he actually didn’t join until his junior and then discovered how much he loved it. He was happy to be in our beginning mixed choir even though his ability level was advanced. He is a terrific piano player, he accompanied the choir on several occasions last year, and was able to take over rehearsal duties, leading the entire beginning choir after only about a month.” — Nancy Stuck, Beckman High School

Sophia Zonni

“Sophia has a deep love for music and has poured many hours into perfecting her craft over the years. …Sophia works hard and is very dedicated to her musical studies. She puts her heart into every character she sings for- whether it is a leading role or background vocals, Sophia always gives 100% effort into every song she sings. I am so proud of her & excited to see where her beautiful voice takes her in the years to come!” — Megan Carvale, Orange Lutheran High School