LAMusArt

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

For over a decade, Syriany has been finding her voice within the LAMusArt community. Beginning her journey at just five years old, Syriany still remembers how it all started. "I first enrolled at LAMusArt at 5 years old for ballet," she shares.

Read more about Syriany by clicking here:

https://www.lamusart.org/post/student-spotlight-syriany-d

Our Tuition-Free Intro to Choir class has openings! Designed for beginners, this class meets once a week on Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm and is open to students aged 7 and up. Call the front office today to add this class to your schedule today!

Missed last Saturday's meet and greet? No worries; we've got another planned for THIS Saturday! Meet LAMusArt's newest Executive Director, Daniel A. Almanza, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

https://events.humanitix.com/meet-and-greet-with-daniel-almanza

We are thrilled to announce that Daniel A. Almanza has been appointed as the next Executive Director of the Los Angeles Music and Art School, beginning January 5, 2026.

An accomplished arts leader and proud East LA native, Daniel brings nearly 20 years of experience in arts education, nonprofit leadership, and community partnership development. His deep roots in City Terrace and El Sereno, combined with his commitment to access, sustainability, and youth creativity, make him an extraordinary fit for LAMusArt’s mission.

“I am honored to return to the community that raised me,” Daniel shared. “LAMusArt has been a creative home for generations. I look forward to listening, learning, and working together to strengthen the role of the arts in our community.”

Please join us in welcoming Daniel to the LAMusArt family! We look forward to this exciting new chapter together.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, all gifts made through today are MATCHED, doubling your impact and helping more young artists access the creativity, confidence, and community they deserve.

With a contribution of $500 or more, you can reserve a tile in LAMusArt’s Community Mosaic, dedicating it to someone who has shaped your life — or to mark your own legacy.

Today is your last day to double your impact!

Don't miss out: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=METJC9YFRMZYN

On Saturday, November 15th, Los Angeles Music and Art School hosted its very own Teaching Artist Showcase in which teachers took turns showcasing their talent in the ballet room. Despite the rain, guests enjoyed an evening of varying musical talents, ranging from vocalists to pianists and even a trio.

The night began with our Programs Manager, Marlene Grajeda, greeting the audience as the emcee for the occasion. For each Teaching Artist who performed, she gave a small introduction that included each teacher‘s discipline and how long they’ve been teaching at LAMusArt.

Opening the show was the Visual Art Instructor, Diana Ortiz, who sang a cover of “La Fama” by Rosalía. Diana is a multi-disciplinary artist with a focus on visual storytelling in animation. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation/Pre-Production from California State University of Long Beach. As an instructor for almost two years, she teaches all ages of artists from Art for the Young to Art II.

Up next was the Communications Coordinator, Leslie Swadener, with a cover of “I Caught Myself” by Paramore. Although not a teacher, Leslie has been a part of the LAMusArt team since 2020 when she started as an Arts Education Intern. She received her BA in Music from Whittier College. As an employee of LAMusArt, she sees the importance of arts education and has continued her music education by taking voice lessons with Melina Adragna for two years.

Following the vocalists was LAMusArt’s own super group featuring guitar instructor, James Hober, piano instructor, Juan Gamez, and drum instructor, Ben Zurier. Together, they wowed the audience with their own rendition of “Heaven in Pennies” by Esperanza Spalding and an original composition by James Hober entitled “No Rehearsal Blues.” James Hober holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Cornell University and studied film scoring at UCLA Extension. He has been a teaching artist at LAMusArt for over 35 years. Juan Gamez is a piano performance graduate of the Mike Curb College of Arts at CSUN. He has been an instructor for three years. Ben Zurier graduated from Towson University in Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Music in the Jazz/Commercial program with a concentration in Jazz Drum Set. He is also a graduate from the California Institute of the Arts with a Master's in Fine Arts and a concentration in World Percussion. Ben has been a part of the team for two years.

Piano and Audio Engineer instructor Nadia Aponte was up next, performing two of her own original songs. She opened up with a mellow piece titled “On Sundays,” which captured the beauty of spending time with those you cherish. She then sang and played a song called “Scary” that spoke vulnerably about how unpredictable life can be. Nadia is a homegrown talent, starting at LAMusArt at a young age. She has graduated from CalPoly Pomona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Industry Studies and has worked for years as a sound engineer for various events. Within the last two years, Nadia has become a permanent part of the team as an audio engineer instructor and a piano teacher.

Piano Instructor Brendan White closed the event with three excerpts from a version of The Nutcracker scored specifically for piano. The arrangement is designed to reflect all the musical elements of a full orchestral performance. He began with “Overture,” followed with “Marche,” and ended the night with the emotional “Pas de Deux.” Audience members were in a trance as Brendan’s fingers moved swiftly and seamlessly across the keys. Brendan studied at the Eastman School of Music and the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California and has been a teacher at LAMusArt for about a decade. He performs regularly at community theatres and events.

Los Angeles Music and Art School would like to thank everyone who performed and the audience in attendance for continuing to support our mission. We look forward to seeing more of you at future events!

Thank you to our photographer for the night: Erik Luna!

For eight decades, our community has come together to nurture creativity and inspire young artists. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, your gift can make twice the difference.

Thanks to a generous matching challenge, every dollar you contribute now will be doubled, sustaining arts education programs that enrich lives across Greater Los Angeles.

Help us honor 80 years of impact—and ensure the arts continue to flourish for generations to come.

LAMusArt.org/donate

EEK! Look no further beyond the fog, we've got your next spooky event booked.

Join us for an evening of eerie tunes and peculiar prizes. You won't want to miss the haunting talents of our choir ensembles!

Melodies in the Moonlight
Featuring LAMusArt Youth Choir and Advanced Choir
Saturday, October 18th, 2025 at 6:00 PM

Snag your seat by clicking here: https://events.humanitix.com/melodies-in-the-moonlight