LMSV VAPA

09/25/2026

Thanks to Save the Music for providing our district music teachers with the opportunity to get together for a full day of professional learning specific to music education, with Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore of Cal State Fullerton. They had a wonderful day together collaborating and building community.

09/22/2026

We are grateful of our partnership with Save the Music Foundation, which provides grants to just 40 districts nationwide - only 8 here in California. It's especially meaningful when we see ourselves listed among some of the largest school districts in the country - Los Angeles Unified, New York City Public Schools, and Miami-Dade Public Schools. https://www.savethemusic.org/partner-communities/

09/16/2026

At La Mesa Arts Academy, our middle school theater students don't just learn acting, they have access to expanded theater offerings like film studies and costuming.

09/09/2026

Local San Diego Music News blog ListenSD recently interviewed LMSV VAPA Coordinator Christian Tordahl on the district partnership with Save the Music Foundation.

Listen up San Diego... ListenSD is a San Diego Music News blog giving you the skinny on the best local music & up-and-coming bands playing in San Diego.

09/04/2026

The third year of our elementary VAPA program is in full swing, with students grades TK-5 getting lessons in both visual art and general music from credential art and music teachers.

08/01/2026

Thank you to Save the Music, Switchfoot, and Bro-Am Foundation for supporting our resurrected music program at Spring Valley Academy! This year SVA adds choir! Looking forward to our continued partnership with the Sonidos Latinos grant at STEAM Academy.

07/31/2026

Wonderful performance of Aladdin Jr by LMSV Playhouse, our summer ESS production. Congratulations Tony Sacco for your excellent work with our students, who represent ten elementary schools and three middle school academies!

07/21/2026

Congratulations to STEAM Academy for being awarded the Core Sonidos Latinos grant from Save the Music Foundation, funded through Switchfoot's Bro-Am Foundation! We are grateful to Save the Music Foundation, Bro-Am, and Switchfoot for investing in the La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools to help bring quality music equipment and experiences to our students. Save The Music

06/12/2026

Last night six members of the Spring Valley Academy Band, along with music teacher Tino Felicetta, performed Lean On Me with the band Switchfoot. A special thank you to Save the Music Western Regional Program Director Tonya Hylton and LMSV VAPA Coorindator Christian Tordahl for securing the grant funded by Switchfoot's Bro-Am Foundation to provide $80,000 of band instruments for SVA this past fall!

06/12/2026

A story about the band Switchfoot's visit To Spring Valley Academy to perform for the 6th and 7th grade students and practice with the band for the upcoming Bro-Am Foundation events.

The group performed for the school and with the SVA band in advance of the annual Switchfoot Bro-Am On Monday, May 11th, students at Spring Valley Academy (SVA) received a special visit and performance from Grammy® Award-winning, San Diego-based rock band Switchfoot. The visit celebrated the school...