Faculty
Technical Theatre
Faculty
James M. “Mike” McCullock, Technical Theatre Director - Mike’s background in theater spans over thirty years, as well as across the globe. He has worked theatrically up and down the west coast, in New York, Chicago, Canada and seven countries in Europe. He has done everything from acting and directing to set design and construction. He was directing intern for The Old Globe theater under the tutelage of such renowned directors as Crag Noel, Sheldon Epps and Tony Award Winner John Rando. He has directed at several local theaters, including The Coronado Playhouse. Most recently he worked as an electrician (stage lighting) for the San Diego REPertory Theater, Cygnet Theater and The Old Globe Theatre. He currently works as a scenic carpenter for The La Jolla Playhouse, is the new technical director for Scripps Ranch Theater and serves as Associate Artistic Director for OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista.
Curtis Mueller, Lighting Designer: Curtis has worked around Southern Califonria at venues including The Intrepid Shakepeare Company, Rancho Buena Vista High School, and New Village Arts. Awards include "Outstanding Lighting Design" for Jesus Christ Superstar and "Lighting of the Year" for Legally Blonde The Musical. Curtis also works with the Greenway Arts Alliance in Los Angeles and is the resident lighting designer for the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program. His original Christmas light shows can be found at www.youtube.com/lights4321. Curtis holds a BFA in Lighting Design from California Institute of the Arts.
Guest Artists
Chad Dellinger: Chad is very excited to return to the CoSA stage. He recently received a Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Design from San Diego State University. Chad's work has been seen on the stages of The Hollywood's Blank Theatre, The Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center and the Scripps Ranch Theatre. In 2014 Chad worked in the design office of The Old Globe Theatre assisting on Bright Star and Othello. Chad has assisted with Ralph Funicello, Sean Fanning and is currently working with John Icaovelli. For more information please visit www.chaddellingerdesigns.com.
Beth Kincaid Connelly (Costume Designer): Beth Kincaid Connelly (Costume Designer): Beth is delighted to return for her third year of theatre at CoSA. She holds an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Connecticut and a B.F.A. from Cornish College of the Arts. Her work at CoSA includes Grapes of Wrath, Pirates of Penzance, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Legally Blonde: The Musical, Chicago, Midsummer Night's Fever and Big Fish. Beth has also designed costumes at Diversionary Theatre, ACT San Diego, CYC Theatre and Leading Light Theatre.
Guest Artsists who have previously worked at CoSA include:
Valerie Henderson: Henderson consulted as Costume Designer for many of CoSA’s Musical Theatre productions. She earned her M.F.A. in Costume Design and Technology from San Diego State University, after receiving a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa. In 2009, she was costume designer for the American Dance Festival in North Carolina, and has also designed several modern dance works in San Diego with companies including Joe Alter Dance Group, Malashock Dance Company, and Little Known Dance Company. Henderson consults for the North Coast Repertory Theatre, Moxie Theatre, and Diversionary Theatre, and San Diego State University’s theatre department.
Cara Tougas: Tougas, a M.F.A. degree candidate in Scenic Design at San Diego State University, consulted on CoSA Musical Theatre productions. She was scenic designer for SDSU’s Theatre Department’s productions of Symphony of Clouds (2011) and The Boyfriend (2011), and scenic assistant for The Magic Flute (2011), produced by SDSU’s Department of Music and Dance. Tougas spent a month in Moscow, Russia studying Scenic Design at the Moscow Art Theatre School in 2010.
Classical and Contemporary Dance
Faculty
Betzi Roe (Elizabeth Weinberg): Betzi Roe apprenticed with the San Francisco Ballet and then joined the Hartford Ballet Company in 1969. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Dance (contemporary dance and world dance forms) from University of California, Los Angeles, she co-founded San Diego’s highly visible dance company, 3’s Co. & Dancers. From 1987 – 2002, she toured a one-woman concert of works by regional and national artists, and choreographed pieces for the California Ballet, San Diego Dance Theatre, Mojalet Dance Collective and others.
Roe’s honors and awards include: U.S. Information Agency Cultural Specialist in both Russia and China; U.S. representative at the first Bi-National Encounter of Contemporary Dance in Mexico (1993), California Dance Educators Association Dance Educator of the Year (1993); San Diego Dance Alliance “Honoree” for her work in public education (1997); CAHPERD (California Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) Dance Educator of the Year (2002) and Surdna Foundation Grantee (2005). She has been with CoSA since its beginning, and is now Chair of the Classical & Contemporary Dance Department, while simultaneously serving as Artistic Director for Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival, now in its 18th year.
Gina Bolles Sorensen: One part dance educator, one part choreographer and one part Registered Yoga Teacher, Gina Bolles Sorensen has the supreme pleasure of talking about movement and the body all day long. She and her husband, Kyle Sorensen, are the Artistic Directors of somebodies dance theater, a contemporary modern dance company that endeavors to wed the arts of dance and theatre. Her choreography has been produced in festivals and concert programs throughout the United States and abroad. Recently her work "left Field" in collaboration with Kyle Sorensen and violinist Kristopher Apple, was awarded the San Diego Young Choreographers Prize. (somebodiesdancetheater.com).
Gina received a 2013 National Artist Teacher Fellowship to attend the MELT Intensive in New York City from the Center for Arts Education at the Boston Arts Academy for her work with somebodies dance theatre and for her work as a dance teacher and choreographer at CoSA. In 2007, she was awarded a Gary E. Smith Summer Research Grant and a Center for Study of Women in Society Research Grant to study the classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam in Bangalore, India. In 2009 an excerpt of her MFA thesis on imagery in dance education was published in the Journal of Dance Education. She has a MFA in Dance from the University of Oregon and a BA in Mass Media Communication Studies and Political Science from UCLA. Gina currently teaches dance and related subjects at San Diego State University, San Diego City College, San Diego Dance Theatre and CoSA, in addition to yoga classes online through her project Yoga Natyam (yoganatyamonline.com).
Matt Carney: Matt Carney is thankful for this thing called dance and for all of the teachers who have helped him along the way. He began dancing professionally with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO) in his hometown of St. Louis, MO and later joined the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company based in Kansas City. Mr. Carney has had the privilege to perform works by dance luminaries Sir Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Erick Hawkins, Doris Humphrey, Robert Cohen and Donald McKayle, and looks forward to passing this folklore down to any students who will listen. A resident of San Diego since 2008, Matt is currently a company member with San Diego Dance Theater and the San Diego Ballet, and in his fifth year teaching at Coronado School of the Arts. Matt holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and received his Masters in Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University.
Zaquia Salinas: Zaquia Mahler Salinas holds her BA in Dance with Honors from UC Santa Barbara and is currently working towards an MFA in Creative Practice at St. Mary’s College of California. As a choreographer, she has shared works through programs such as the World Cultures Program at SDCC, SDDT's Young Choreographers Showcase and Prize, UC San Diego’s ArtPower!, White Box Live Arts Fest to name a few. Zaquia has presented evening-length works, along with many shorter pieces, as well as dance films. She currently resides at Jean Isaacs’ San Diego Dance Theater where she dances and serves in various administrative roles.
Sadie Weinberg: Dancer and choreographer Sadie Weinberg graduated with a B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase and earned her M.F.A. in Dance from UC Irvine. Weinberg, who has danced the works of Doug Varone, Brenda Way, and Kevin Winn, has also choreographed and produced her own concerts and had the honor of representing the United States in the Solo Dance Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. Locally she has been a performer for the McCaleb Dance, Malashock Dance and San Diego Dance Theatre. In addition to teaching at CoSA, she is on the adjunct faculties of Mira Costa College and Palomar College and UCSD.
Trystan Merrick Loucado: Trystan Merrick Loucado studied ballet under the tutelage of Ahita Ardalan. He has performed in the works of such great choreographers as Twyla Tharp, Robert Cohen, and George Balanchine, as well as many of the classics. Mr. Merrick joined Nevada Ballet Theater in 2007, and has since danced for San Diego Ballet, Malashock, Owen Cox Dance, Concept Zero, City Ballet of San Diego and most recently Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, touring internationally to 16 countries on five continents. He maintained a presence in his hometown of San Diego by returning regularly to perform with Jean Isaacs San Diego Dance Theater and is currently a Principal Dancer with the California Ballet. Trystan is happy to return to San Diego to teach and dance in this growing community full time.
Kyle Sorensen: Kyle Sorensen graduated with a B.A. in Dance from the University of Oregon, where he was honored with the Dance Achievement Award in Recognition of Undergraduate Excellence as a Developing Artist. He earned his M.F. A. in Dance Theatre from UC San Diego, where he was awarded the Achievement Award in Teaching.
Sorensen has danced professionally in Los Angeles, Oregon, Washington and San Diego, as well as performed in works by Tere O’Connor, Susan Marshall, Jean Isaacs, and Gabe Masson. Sorensen has taught full courses in contemporary dance and hip hop at UC San Diego and San Diego City College, and master classes at Sam Houston State University (Texas), Winthrop University and Johnson C. Smith University (South Carolina) and Southwestern Community College.
Guest Artists who have previously coached at CoSA include:
Julio Catano: Julio received his BFA in dance from Fordham University in conjunction with The Ailey School. At the Ailey School he performed repertoire by Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey, Elisa Monte, Bradley Shelver, Thang Dao, Stefanie Batten Bland and Nathan Trice. He performed for two seasons with Ballet Hispanico's BHDos in works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, William Whitener, Geoffrey Holder, Ramón Oller, Eduardo Vilaro, Pedro Ruiz and Nicholas Villeneuve. While in New York he studied vocal technique at CAP 21 under Dr. Pam Phillips PhD and Michael Hicks. He has performed with the San Diego Opera in their productions of Romeo et Juliette, Salome, and Nixon In China. Julio has danced as a guest with MOMIX, Mercedes-Benz LA Fashion Week, New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, San Diego Dance Theater and San Diego Ballet. Most recently he has performed as a guest artist with the City Ballet of San Diego in their productions of The Nutcracker and Romeo & Juliette. Musical Theater credits include Les Misérables (Marius), Into the Woods (Prince Charming/Wolf) at the AVO Playhouse; International tour The Addams Family (Ancestor); West Side Story (Indio) at Lamb's Players Theatre. Julio is a member of Actors Equity Association (AEA) and the American Guild of Musical Artist (AGMA).
Julio Velazquez: Julio Velezquez started as self taught Hip-Hop/Break dancer, and built a reputation in San Diego as versatile dancer and Disc Jockey. He graduated from San Diego State University with a B.F.A. in Dance and performed with their dance company, UDC. He has performed with several dance groups - ENVY, Kruciaal Element, Olio The Show (vintage Street Dance Group), and Culture Shock SD. he has worked with other artists such as Lakeside, Jason Brown, Tommy The Clown and Melissa Adao in her 2015 Fringe performance "Hip Hop Cabhooray". For the past four years he has performed in Trolley Dances in works by Jean Issacs, Kim Epifano, Grace Jun Mills, and Mark Haim. Julio currently teaches dance classes in styles ranging from Hip-Hop, House, Afro Cuban, Wacking, Popping, to Tutting in several local dance studios.
Digital Arts (Animation, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, Game Design)
Faculty
Anna Woerman, Graphic Design: An alumna of CoSA, Anna graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Art and a minor in Italian. While at SDSU she participated in a year-long study abroad program in Florence, Italy at the Italian life drawing school, Scuola Libera del Nudo all’ Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Now in her eighth year teaching CoSA’s Digital Arts Graphic Design strand, she also teaches Digital Media Foundations and Yearbook at Coronado High School. She is a K-12 Adobe Education Leader and also sits on the Board of Directors of the non-profit, Arts Bus Xpress. She is currently obtaining her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of San Diego. Anna is also a professional artist, photographer and graphic designer. Her artwork has been in group shows in San Diego and Florence, Italy and her design and photography has been featured in numerous blogs and publications including Coronado Magazine and Coronado Lifestyle Magazine. She was the photographer for the recent book, Coronado, California: Hometown, Homeport, Home Away From Home. You can view her work at annawoerman.com.
Riana Bucceri, Animation and Department Head: Riana loves the art of animation and admits that she still loves to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. She graduated with a B.F.A. in Digital Media and Animation from the College for Creative Studies, Detroit Michigan. The Michigan native moved to Southern California and began her teaching career at the San Pasqual Academy, a Court and Community School for foster teenagers, where she implemented a new technology program. Migrating to CoSA in 2003 she continues to teach various aspects of digital arts including; Animation, Photography, Digital Media Foundations, and Design in New Media classes. Her continued passion for learning and teaching fueled Riana to pursue a master’s degree at High Tech High Graduate School of Education, Point Loma, CA. There she graduated with a M.Ed. concentrating on project based learning, differentiation for students, and developing teacher leadership initiatives. The emphasis within her educational work is to create, execute, and finalize digital media project-based learning concepts that connects students to the “real world”. She has written years of curriculum, benchmarks, and multiple UC approved courses including Video Production, Graphic Design, Animation, Game Design, and Design in New Media courses for CoSA Digital Arts, CTE Online, and San Pasqual Academy. Additionally Riana developed the Arts, Media, and Entertainment CTE website and continues to work closely with the representatives from the California Department of Education as Webmaster of the site. Riana has always had a passion for teaching and learning since she can remember and that is still true as of today.
Edward Kramer, Filmmaking: Edward is a San Diego native and independent filmmaker. He specializes in documentaries on community, what unites them, and the characters that help them work. He is the recipient of two Emmy awards and a Fellow of the 2005 NALIP Producers Academy. He has worked on documentary projects internationally and local live TV production including sports, concerts, and news. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help students find their voice and skills in this medium as we work to create an 'electronic town square.'"
Tony Perri, Broadcast: Tony Perri is the Broadcast and Film teacher and executive producer for Coronado TV Studios at CoSA. He began his broadcast and film career as a TVnews anchorman, reporter and producer before joining the Walt Disney Company as a producer, writer, director and on-air host. While with Disney, Perri worked closely with CEO Michael Eisner and Board Chairman, Roy Disney to create hundreds of live and recorded broadcast TV shows, the Disney Sunday Night Movie, entertainment specials, home video presentations and short films. After many years with the Walt Disney Company, Perri became producer, host and director at the CBS-TV affiliate, KPIX- CHannel 5 in San Francisco where he produced the country's longest running TV show, Evening Magazine and the nationaly syndicated program, PM Magazine. In 2000, Perri began the TV and film production company, Surf's Up Studios in Newport Beach, CA and then eventually moving the company to Coronado, CA. Surf's Up clients include Warner Bros. Studios, Walt Disney Company, Princess Cruises, NBC, CNN, FOX News, Paramount Pictures, SONY Home Entertainment, Major League Baseball. CBS Sports, ABC-TV, the Super Bowl Halftime Shows, Microsoft and Apple. While at Disney, CBS and Surf's Up Studios, Perri worked with and directed many celebrities including George Lucas, Clint Eastwood, Michael Jackson, Steven Speilberg, Ronald Reagan, Oprah Winfrey, Francis Ford Coppola, George Clooney, Marie Osmond, Michael Jordan, Shaq, Michael Keaton, Pamela Anderson, Bill Clinton, George H. Bush, Julie Andrews and Joe Montana. Perri's recent film productions include the documentary, School of Thought starring Academy Award-nominated director, David Lynch and former Beatle, Paul McCartney; and the feature film, Serotonin Rising featuring the Dalia Lama and Deepak Chopra.
Instrumental Music
Faculty and Coaches
Lorraine Castellanos: Lorraine Castellanos has an intense passion for music, evident in her perceptive phrasing and tone, both as an instrumentalist and vocalist. With extensive knowledge of multiple genres of music, Ms. Castellanos derives pure pleasure when interpreting the works of great Latin American and Western European composers. Inspired by the likes of John Williams, Andrés Segovia, Castellanos has equal admiration for the great jazz song stylists who have inspired her to sing selections from the great American Songbook, particularly Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.
Castellanos enjoys working as a full-time professional musician as well as a music educator. Preparing young musicians to transition from the classroom to the real world is a major focus in Castellanos' teaching philosophy. Lorraine Castellanos holds a BM, an MM in Classical Guitar, and a teaching credential specializing in Multiple Pathways/Linked Learning approaches from San Diego State University. Castellanos is thrilled to be part of the CoSA and Coronado Unified School District family and community.
Kathyrn Hatmaker, Strings: “Classical music is much more than just music. It’s a record of the way people have thought about their lives. And in this music we can learn such powerful lessons about humanity and inspiration.”* Thus begins Hatmaker’s instruction to her students. Hatmaker has been a violinist with the San Diego Symphony since 2006, in addition to being the co-founder and Artistic Director for Art of Elan (www.artofelan.org), a San Diego-based chamber music organization committed to bringing classical music to diverse audiences.After receiving undergraduate training at both the University of Iowa and the Sorbonne University in Paris, Hatmaker completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University. She has played with a variety of orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony and the Pittsburgh “Live Chamber Orchestra,” where she helped to attract younger audiences to classical music. She has been an instructor at CoSA since 2007.
*Michel Tilson Thomas, Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony and the New World Symphony
Devin Burnworth, Brass: When Devin Burnworth met the trombone in 5th grade, he fell in love with the slide. His first private teacher, in addition to showcasing the various colors and capabilities of the instrument, showed him the importance of having a musical role model. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in trombone performance at Wheaton College and Penn State University respectively, Devin moved to NYC where he continued to study and perform with members of the New York Philharmonic.
Having recently returned to San Diego, Devin has performed with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, the La Jolla Symphony, and other orchestras in town. He has played with numerous chamber ensembles, pit orchestras, brass quartets, and quintets throughout San Diego. Beyond performing, Devin believes it is vital to spread the joy of music through teaching and mentoring. His enthusiasm for music and his empathy for his students have enabled them to win top positions and accomplish their dreams. Devin teaches all instruments of the brass family.
Danny Green, Jazz: Pianist and composer Danny Green has garnered a reputation in the jazz community as an emerging artist whose music sounds simultaneously seasoned and fresh. Showcasing a brilliant blend of jazz, Brazilian, Latin, and classical elements, Green’s music engages listeners with evocative melodies and infectious rhythms. According to JazzReview.com,“Danny Green is what evolution in jazz is all about, expressing the traits of those thatcame before him, with a style and panache that is all his own...an individual whoexpresses what is inside of him.” Green revealed his unique talents on his 2009 debut recording With You In Mind. The album received extensive airplay around the globe, rose to #18 on the Jazz Week Charts, and won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. In 2012, Green teamed up with Tapestry Records to release A Thousand Ways Home, featuring Justin Grinnell onbass, Julien Cantelm on drums, and Tripp Sprague (CoSA Guest Artist) on sax, as well as a talented cast of guest artists inducing guitarists Chico Pinheiro, Peter Sprague, and Dusty Brough, Brazilian vocalist Claudia Villela, and mandolinist Eva Scow. A Thousand Ways Home received numerous rave reviews nationwide, rose to #17 on the Jazz Week Charts, was voted into KSDS Jazz 88.3’s “Top Ten Jazz Releases of 2012,” and was nominated “Best Jazz Album” at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards. The Danny Green Trio released it’s latest recording, After The Calm, in November 2014 on OA2 Records. Featuring ten of Green’s compositions, the album received much praise from the press and nationwide radio play. JazzWax described the album as “A highly impressive album that will knock you out,” and the San Diego Troubadour called it, “Unconditionally recommended to anyone who appreciates good jazz, instrumental music or soundtracks.”For more information visit www.dannygreen.net
Mark Margolies, Wind: Mark Margolies worked for over twenty years as a freelance musician in the Boston area. He could regularly be found playing clarinet, E flat and bass clarinets in orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout New England, as well as saxophones, flute, oboe and bassoon in theater pits, klezmer ensembles and other groups. A champion of new music, Mark has many premiers to his credit including Julian Wachner’s Clarinet Concerto which was written for him and commissioned by the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. He has been a participant in every Warebrook Contemporary Music Festival since 1991, where he worked with such composers as Martin Boykan, Milton Babbitt, Marjorie Merryman, Andrew Imbrie, Bernard Rands, Sara Doncaster and many others. He has recorded for the Albany, ARSIS Audio and Denouement Record labels. He taught clarinet and coached chamber music at Boston College from 1995 - 2008 and was woodwind teacher and ensemble coach at Brookline Music School since 1989. In October of 2008, Mark moved to the San Diego area where he teaches and works as a freelance woodwind player. He performs regularly at The Old Globe Theatre, The San Diego Civic Theater, San Diego Symphony, The Lawrence Welk Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Lyric Opera, San Diego Clarinet Society, and other venues around Southern California. He is a member of The San Diego Clarinet Quintet, JAMB, and The Windsong Consort, a mixed chamber music group based in Temecula. He holds degrees in Music and Communication from Boston University.
Matt Heinecke: Former IM Director, now serving as CUSD Band Director and AP Music Theory teacher. Third-generation Coronado resident and CoSA alum Matt Heinecke continued his music education with a B.M. in Music Industry and a M.A. in Music Education, both from the University of Southern California. Heinecke had been teaching at CoSA since 2007, except for a brief stint in Colorado, and served as CoSA’s Instrumental Music Director until 2016-17. In addition to building award winning concert bands at CHS and jazz ensembles in CoSA, Heinecke has been a professional guitarist, vocalist, sideman, songwriter and session player in Los Angeles and Nashville. He currently performs with his own band, Crown Town, and a variety of entertainment companies around San Diego. He is a member of the San Diego Master Chorale and California Music Educators Association.
Musical Theatre and Drama
Faculty
Barbara Wolf, Ph.D.: Dr. Wolf serves as Chair of CoSA’s award-winning Musical Theatre & Drama conservatory. Recent shows include The Wedding Singer, 42nd Street, Spelling Bee, All Shook Up, Pirates of Penzance, Legally Blonde The Musical, Singin' in the Rain, Thoroughly Modern Millie; and Into the Woods for CoSA. She has also directed for Southwestern Community College, Bowling Green State University, San Diego State University and The Huron Playhouse. Barbara received her Master of Arts from San Diego State University and her Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University.
Kim Strassburger: Kim Strassburger, who teaches acting at CoSA and spearheads the ESU Shakespeare competition at CHS, most recently directed CoSA’s productions of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), The Grapes of Wrath, Metamorphoses and The Laramie Project, receiving Bravissimo Awards in 2010 and 2011 from the San Diego Educational Theatre Association. Kim is also the Associate Artistic Director and a Founding Company Member of Ion Theatre, now celebrating its 10th year in San Diego. Most recently, Kim received a 2014 San Diego Craig Noel Award nomination for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for her production of Passion at Ion Theatre. In 2011, she received “Best Director” from San Diego City Beat for Ion Theatre's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This was followed in 2012 by a Craig Noel Award Nominee with co-director Claudio Raygoza for Best Direction of a Musical for Ion Theatre's Gypsy. Other directing credits include Grey Gardens and Passion at Ion Theatre and Edward Albee's Seascape at New Village Arts. Kim has also worked with Sledgehammer Theatre (Associate Artist) and Cygnet Theatre among other San Diego theatres. Strassburger was the recipient of a 2013 National Artist Teacher Fellowship that funded her study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). In 2014, Kim also became a member of Lincoln Center Theater's Directors Lab. Upcoming directing projects include the musical A New Brain at Diversionary Theatre and Sunday in the Park with George at Ion Theatre.
David McBean: David McBean is a San Diego native and the new Vocal Instructor for CoSA. He attended the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts and graduated with a BA in Theater Arts from the University of San Diego. Previous music directing credits include: "Dirty Blonde", "Pageant" (Cygnet Theater) and "A Midsummer Night's Dream - the Musical" (Intrepid). He is also Music Director for Mission Hills United Methodist Church and a local actor.
Gina Sorensen: One part dance educator, one part choreographer and one part Registered Yoga Teacher, Gina Bolles Sorensen has the supreme pleasure of talking about movement and the body all day long. She and her husband Kyle Sorensen are the Artistic Directors of somebodies dance theater (somebodiesdancetheater.com), a contemporary modern dance company that endeavors to wed the arts of dance and theatre. Recently her work "left Field," in collaboration with Kyle Sorensen and violinist Kristopher Apple, was awarded the San Diego Young Choreographers Prize.
Gina received a 2013 National Artist Teacher Fellowship to attend the MELT Intensive in New York City, from the Center for Arts Education at the Boston Arts Academy, for her work with somebodies dance theatre and for her work as a dance teacher and choreographer at CoSA. In 2009 an excerpt of her M.F.A. thesis on imagery in dance education was published in the Journal of Dance Education. In 2007, she was awarded a Gary E. Smith Summer Research Grant and a Center for Study of Women in Society Research Grant to study the classical Indian dance form Bharatanatyam in Bangalore, India. She has a M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Oregon and a B.A. in Mass Media Communication Studies and Political Science from UCLA. Gina currently teaches dance and related subjects at San Diego State University, San Diego City College, San Diego Dance Theatre, and CoSA, in addition to yoga classes online through her project Yoga Natyam (yoganatyamonline.com).
Visual Arts
Faculty
Karrie Jackson: Karrie Jackson is a Coronado High School and Coronado School of the Arts graduate and teacher. Her current artwork highlights the vibrant beach culture and landscape of Coronado Island. Ms. Jackson completed her undergraduate training at California College of the Arts, San Francisco, With Distinction; obtained a Masters of Education, Curriculum & Instruction - Integrated Teaching through the Arts, from Lesley University; and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Visual Art from Point Loma Nazarene College. She has been a free lance artist in addition to being an educator since 2003. She worked as a Visual Art Consultant for CoSA starting in 2010 and joined CoSA’s permanent staff in 2012.
With a primary focus on landscape painting in acrylic, Ms. Jackson is known for her Coastal Impressionism, In 2014, Ms. Jackson set out to capture the joy and beauty of the Coronado shoreline, especially the enjoyment of youth and surf culture. Ms. Jackson designs original compositions from her own photography and stylizes her work through rich color and loose application of paint. Her aim is to express the essence of a moment and above all inspire and bring joy to the viewers.
Ms. Jackson has developed a wide range work in order to facilitate a strong foundation for teaching. Her body of work includes landscape and figurative work as well as architectural. botanical, abstract and pet commissions. She has facilitated and organized screen printing workshops, mural production and chalk walks as well as workshops that develop traditional art skills and abstraction.
Website: sites.google.com/a/crownartstudios.com/onlineportfoliokarriejackson