(Monday, February 12, Los Angeles) – The Board of Directors of the Colburn School announces the election of four new board members: Bethany Coffee, Linda Curtis, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, and Allan Marks.
Chaired by Andrew Millstein, the Colburn Board of Directors supports the School’s mission to provide the highest quality music and dance education at all levels of development and provide access to the performing arts. “It is an incredibly rewarding experience to serve as Chairman of Colburn School’s Board of Directors and observe the transformative impact that the Colburn School has on students and the community. Guided by the principle of ‘access to excellence’ Colburn provides the finest faculty and robust scholarship support to students, as well as active community engagement programs and a busy schedule of performances,” says Millstein. “We are truly privileged to welcome our newest Board members—Bethany Coffee, Linda Curtis, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, and Allan Marks—who share our passionate commitment to ensuring the performing arts are accessible to all.”
An internationally renowned performing arts school located in the cultural corridor of downtown Los Angeles, The Colburn School provides the highest quality music and dance education to students at all levels of development, from children as young as 7 months old to those about to embark on professional careers. Each year, 2,000 students from around the world study in one of the School’s four academic units—the Community School of Performing Arts, Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, and Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Serving all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact prepares students for sustainable careers and nurtures the passion and ability to serve their communities. Performances in the community and on campus develop young artists and welcome audiences with over 350 free and low-cost performances annually.
Bethany Coffee has worked in the healthcare industry for over 20 years. She served as Director of Therapy Rehabilitation in addition to her own business as an occupational therapist to address not only the physical needs of people but also their emotional and psychological well-being. During her career she implemented several new programs in the workplace. Bethany has been a part of the Colburn community for nine years. Her two children attend classes at Colburn, one in music and one in ballet. Bethany has been a part of several programs during that time including musical theater, instrumental, vocal training, dance, among others. She personally shares that Colburn has changed the direction of her family’s lives, and that she is fiercely committed to this close-knit community. She has been a board member of Kusewera, a nonprofit that empowers and educates children through active and creative play programs, since 2012. As a member of the board, Bethany has planned fundraising events, developed new programs, such as the Girl Power Initiative, and hosted events promoting the organization’s mission.
Linda Curtis is a partner in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP in Los Angeles. She is co-chair of the firm’s Global Finance Practice Group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of corporate finance, including leveraged financings—with a specific focus in recent years on acquisition financings, real estate financings, and investment fund financings. She also represents clients in debt capital markets transactions and has experience in debt restructurings. Linda’s clients include public and private companies in a variety of industries, private equity funds, and commercial lenders. In 1987, Linda received her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and her Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford Business School. Prior to her graduate work at Stanford, Linda received a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, and an A.B. in public affairs/economics from Princeton University. After graduating from Stanford, she clerked for the Honorable Robert F. Peckham, who was then Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In addition to her support of the Colburn School, Linda has supported the San Francisco Symphony and New Village Academy. Linda and her husband have five children, who all attended Colburn’s Community School.
Juan Carlos Gonzalez is a bilingual licensed attorney in California and a veteran neutral in Labor Relations since 2000. As a Commissioner of Mediation for the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service from 2000 to 2012, Juan Carlos mediated over 600 cases mediating collective bargaining contract negotiations, initial contracts, strikes, lockouts, grievances, EEOC charges, and supervisor discipline cases. From 2012 to the present, Juan Carlos has served as a Labor Arbitrator sitting on various panels in the hotel/stadium, college education, entertainment, and medical industries as well as a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators. Juan Carlos was Executive Director of the Southern California Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA) from 2019 to 2022 as well as President of Orange County LERA in 2016 and a board member from 2014-2019. Since 2019, Juan Carlos has been the President of the Rafael and Luisa De Marchena-Huyke Foundation providing funds to support various initiatives such as inner-city youth access to education, music and the arts and resources for the poor. Juan Carlos has an LLM in Tax Law and a master’s degree in Psychology. He has also been an adjunct professor for the Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Law School and California State University Fullerton, teaching mediation and labor relations.
Allan Marks is an attorney and partner at Milbank LLP, based in Los Angeles. He advises developers, sponsors, banks, institutional investors, private equity and infrastructure funds, and corporations on a range of complex transactions. He covers project development, construction and finance, joint ventures and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, acquisitions, and restructurings. He has worked on energy and infrastructure projects around the world, with special expertise in power and renewable energy, water, transportation, biofuels, telecommunications, airports, rail, and ports. Allan created and hosts the Law, Policy & Markets podcast and speaks and publishes frequently on risk management, sustainability, infrastructure, renewable energy, cross-border transactions, public-private partnerships, and economic and regulatory policy. He is a regular contributor to Forbes and served as an editorial board member of Law360 for Project Finance. Allan is ranked as one of the world’s leading project finance lawyers by Chambers, the IFLR1000, and other legal publications and was named one of California’s “Top 50 Development Lawyers” by the Daily Journal. Allan also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, both at the Law School and (previously) the Haas School of Business. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and was the founding co-chair of the State Bar of California Real Estate Sub-Section on Public-Private Infrastructure. Allan has served on various nonprofit and civic boards and currently serves as a director of Street Symphony, among other organizations, and as a member of the Executive Leadership Board of MoveLA. Allan earned his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley Law School and his B.A. in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.
Please click here for a complete list of members of Colburn School’s Board of Directors.
About the Colburn School
A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.
The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This program offers residential options and balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers more than 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, musical theater, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
Created to serve all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact empowers the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Center embodies Colburn’s commitment to developing young artists with the curiosity, skills, and commitment to make a difference in their field.
Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.
The Colburn Center, designed by Frank Gehry, is a multi-faceted campus expansion of the Colburn School. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the Colburn Center will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape.
Social Media Facebook.com/colburnschool Instagram and Twitter: @ColburnSchool YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/colburnschoollosangeles
Contact:
Lisa Bellamore lbellamore@gmail.com 323-500-3071
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(Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Los Angeles) – At its annual gala, Celebrate Colburn, the Colburn School will honor James Conlon, an internationally recognized conductor and Music Director of the LA Opera, and Merle Mullin, a noted philanthropist and arts enthusiast. They will receive the Richard D. Colburn Award for their exemplary contributions to the world of classical music and the arts. As part of the celebration, Maestro Conlon will also lead an all-Mozart program featuring the Colburn Conservatory’s flagship ensemble, the Colburn Orchestra, and soloists from the Conservatory. Celebrate Colburn takes place at the Colburn School on Sunday, April 7, 2024, and thanks to the strong response from Colburn’s philanthropic community, the event is sold out.
One of today’s most versatile and respected conductors, James Conlon has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic, he has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra, and at many of the world’s leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and filmography, numerous writings, television appearances, and guest speaking engagements, Conlon is one of classical music’s most recognized and prolific figures, and the founder of the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School. Since 2006, Maestro Conlon has been Music Director of LA Opera, where he has led more performances than any other conductor in the company’s history. He continues in this role until his 20th season in 2026, at which time he will become Conductor Laureate.
Merle Mullin is a global philanthropist whose boundless energy and love for travel, food and wine, the visual and performing arts, design, and vintage French cars has inspired her deep influence on the arts and culture, education, transportation design, healthcare, and literacy sectors. Mullin has co-curated a world-renowned vintage car collection that she both oversees as Director of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, and that she drives in competitions. Dozens of organizations around the world are proud to celebrate Mullin and her late husband Peter’s profound generosity, including through the Music Center’s Mullin Wine Bar, the Mullin Transportation Design Center at the Art Center College of Design, The Mullin Commons at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, the Mullin Automotive Park and Museum in the Cotswolds (England), and the future Mullin Family Garden of Thoughts and Dreams at the Colburn School’s new Colburn Center.
The honorees will receive their awards as part a midday celebration centered around the music of Mozart, including performances of the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K. 449 with Conservatory soloist Ryota Yamazaki; Sinfonia Concertante with Conservatory soloists Fiona Shea, violin, and Charlotte Stickel, viola; and Symphony in D Major, K. 385 (“Haffner”), led by Maestro Conlon. Also featured is Pride and Purity, a work created by Dance Academy student choreographer Natalia Reszka to music by Mozart, and performances by Hot Pink Brass Quintet, Fiddles on Fire, Choirs at Colburn, and a Colburn Jazz ensemble.
Proceeds from Celebrate Colburn will benefit Colburn School’s artistic and youth education programs that bring arts education to 8,500 students annually.
CELEBRATE COLBURN SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 Event Information
10 am Opening Reception 11 am Remarks & Performance 1 pm Lunch on the Plaza
Contact: Jennifer Kallend VP of Communications The Colburn School jkallend@colburnschool.edu 215-622-6195
Thanks to an overwhelming response from Colburn’s philanthropic community, the 2024 Celebrate Colburn gala is at capacity. Please contact Alyssa Solis at 213-621-4535 to be placed on the waitlist.
James Conlon on Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) Friday, February 2, 2024 at 12 p.m. Newman Hall at University of Southern California
James Conlon gives a talk and audiovisual presentation on Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg). This program is hosted by the University of Southern California Thornton Vocal Arts and Opera Department, the USC Thornton Musicology Department, and the Max Kade Institute of Austrian-German-Swiss studies.
A Conversation with James Conlon on William Grant Still’s Highway 1, USA and Alexander Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 3 p.m. Hammer Museum
James Conlon in conversation featuring an audiovisual presentation on Still’s Highway 1, USA and Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg). Learn more
James Conlon Curates an Evening of Music by Alexander Zemlinsky and William Grant Still Tuesday, February 6, 2024 Pre-concert lecture at 6 pm; concert at 7 pm The Ebell of Los Angeles
ZEMLINSKY Maeterlinck Lieder STILL Breath of a Rose STILL Songs of Separation: Idolatry, Poéme, Parted, If You Should Go ZEMLINSKY String Quartet No. 4
James Conlon curates a program dedicated to the works of Alexander Zemlinsky and William Grant Still, in collaboration with LA Opera Young Artists and the Colburn School. Conlon also leads a discussion on the musical and historical significance of the music, composers, and culture of the time prior to the start of the performance. Learn more
The Opera League of Los Angeles presents a seminar with James Conlon on Still’s Highway 1, USA and Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 7 p.m. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
James Conlon discusses Still’s Highway 1, USA and Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) in a lecture and audiovisual presentation. Learn more
An Evening with James Conlon on Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) featuring a performance by the Colburn School Quartet Monday, February 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles
ZEMLINSKY String Quartet No. 3
James Conlon leads a discussion and presentation on the historical commentary around Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) in collaboration with the Colburn School. Learn more
James Conlon discusses Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) featuring performances from members of the LA Opera’s Young Artist Program and LA Opera Orchestra Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles County Museum of Art of Art (LACMA)
ZEMLINSKY String Quartet No. 1 ZEMLINSKY Maeterlinck Lieder STILL Breath of a Rose STILL Songs of Separation: Idolatry, Poéme, Parted, If You Should Go ZEMLINSKY String Quartet No. 2
James Conlon leads a discussion on Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg), with a performance featuring musicians of the LA Opera Orchestra, as well as songs by William Grant Still and Zemlinsky in collaboration with LA Opera’s Young Artist Program. Learn more
James Conlon conducts six performances of William Grant Still’s Highway 1 USA and Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) at LA Opera February 24, March 3 (m), 6, 9, 14, 17 (m); evening performances at 7:30 p.m / matinee performances at 2 p.m. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
STILL Highway 1, USA (Los Angeles premiere) ZEMLINSKY The Dwarf (Der Zwerg)
James Conlon to lead pre-show talk in the Eva and Marc Stern Grand Hall at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion one hour before each performance. Learn more
Panel discussion on composers suppressed by the Nazi regime Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 3 p.m. Villa Aurora / Thomas Mann House
SCHULHOFF Piano Suite for Left Hand Alone Preludio KAPRÁLOVÁ Song selections KAPRÁLOVÁ Elegie for Violin and Piano ZEMLINSKY Maeterlinck Lieder MARTINU Violin Sonata No. 2
As part of its ongoing series “Remembering the Exiles”, Villa Aurora hosts a panel discussion led by James Conlon and performance in collaboration with LA Opera Young Artists and the Colburn School, on composers suppressed by the Nazi regime and the quest to make their voices heard again — a mission of both Recovered Voices and the Musica Non Grata program by the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera in Prague.
A Musical Friendship of Two Emigres: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Walter Arlen, featuring a pre-concert talk with James Conlon, Adam Millstein, Harvey Sachs, and Diana Castelnuovo-Tedesco Friday, March 15, 2024 Pre-concert talk at 5:30 p.m.; performance at 7 p.m. Thayer Hall at the Colburn School and livestreamed
CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO String Quartet No. 2 (U.S. premiere of new edition) CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO Greeting Card for String Quartet, dedicated to Walter Arlen ARLEN Short piano works including Monotypes, an homage to Castelnuovo-Tedesco ARLEN Sonnet for violin and piano CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO Greeting Cards, Waltz On the Name Gregor Piatigorsky
Dedicated to the memory of emigre, composer, and long-time Los Angeles resident Walter Arlen, this program features premieres of works by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Walter Arlen, who both fled fascism and artistic repression in Europe and made their home in Los Angeles. The concert includes the US premiere performances of a new edition of String Quartet No. 2 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, including one written based on the name of Walter Arlen. In a pre-concert talk at 5:30 pm moderated by Recovered Voices Program Manager Adam Millstein, special guests James Conlon, Harvey Sachs, and Diana Castelnuovo-Tedesco discuss the life-defining challenges exiled artists faced in the 1930s and 40s and what must be done today to keep their work alive. Learn more
No longer able to attend a performance? Fill out the form below to return your free tickets.
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Please fill out the form below to reserve your complimentary tickets for Music Box 2023, which takes place Sunday, August 27 at 3 pm in Colburn School’s Zipper Hall.
Your tickets can be picked up at the box office 1 hour before curtain.
The deadline to request tickets is Friday, August 25 at 5 pm.
Click to view video
Explore the Early Childhood Creative Arts Program before the start of the spring semester, in our free, family-friendly Open House on January 13.
Embark on your child’s journey in the performing arts! We offer a sequential curriculum designed to support the cognitive, creative, and social development of children ages 7 months to 6 ½ years.
Our program is inspired by a rich diversity of approaches, such as the internationally recognized Kodály and Orff methods, which provide a supportive and interactive learning environment for young children. Our expert instructors use a variety of activities, including singing, playing instruments, and moving to music, to foster children’s natural musicality and expressiveness.
As students approach 4 to 5 years of age, different areas of instruction open up for them at Colburn. They may remain in the Early Childhood Creative Arts Program and continue to develop fundamental skills in music and movement, or they can branch out into Drama, Dance, Suzuki, and more.
What Comes Next?
Dr. Baxani has held leadership roles in arts programs and schools in both the United States and Germany. She received a Doctor of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, where her dissertation focused on the musicality of infants within a childcare community. Her work in creating new programs and curriculum design is collaborative in nature and covers a variety of pedagogical approaches that foster an inclusive child-centered environment. As an arts advocate, Dr. Baxani enjoys creating programs and cultivating partnerships with schools and community and cultural organizations.
Read More
Classes employ developmentally appropriate materials to encourage growth in key areas such as:
Caregivers are a child’s first teachers, so your involvement in our classes is crucial to your child’s progression through the curriculum. By attending classes with your child, you will continue to strengthen the connection with your child while laying a foundation for their continued artistic growth at Colburn.
One of our goals is to support students as they work towards independence. As your child progresses through the curriculum, the level of your involvement in class may change.
These classes have been very important for my daughter’s upbringing and development. I don’t speak a lot of English, so the classes are a great way for my daughter to learn English words through music. Juana Sajbin, mother of Yuliana Gomez-Sajbin (pictured)
These classes have been very important for my daughter’s upbringing and development. I don’t speak a lot of English, so the classes are a great way for my daughter to learn English words through music.
To enroll in Early Childhood classes, please complete the inquiry form below. The Early Childhood Chair, Dr. Nita Baxani, will follow up with you to determine the appropriate class placement for your child.
Early Childhood Inquiry Form
2024 Spring Schedule of Classes (PDF)
As students approach 4 to 5 years of age, they have the option to explore music and dance in both the Community School of Performing Arts and the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Both programs offer a range of options for young students including group piano and guitar, pre-ballet, Suzuki strings and guitar, and more.
Students at this age also have the option to continue their journey in the Early Childhood Program! We have several classes for children ages 4+ that prepare them for more in-depth study later on. Exploring the Keys is a great way for those interested in piano to build their keyboard skills and musical awareness, and our newest class, Singing More, prepares students for the Children’s Chorus by introducing them to ensemble singing.
Explore Colburn’s offerings for young students below.
Discover Music and Drama
Discover Dance
If you have any questions, please contact the Community School office at cspa@colburnschool.edu or 213-621-4548. Thank you!
The Colburn Community School welcomes students of all ages and ability levels. Learn from renowned faculty at Los Angeles’ premier performing arts school, located in downtown.
Summer registration information is below.
You can register online or via email.
2024 Summer Session Course Catalogue
Register Online
Register By Email (PDF)
To register by email, please send the completed PDF form to cspa@colburnschool.edu.
We recommend that students and parents regularly review our academic calendars for updates. The Colburn School only observes holidays noted on our calendar. We do not follow the Los Angeles Unified School District calendar or that of other districts.
2023-24 Academic Calendar (PDF)
At the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts, students of all ages and ability levels can receive one-on-one instruction on any instrument, including voice. Our esteemed faculty share their expertise to help students develop their musicianship, technique, and confidence.
Students enrolled in private lessons also gain access to additional performance opportunities at Colburn, including Friday Night Recitals, the Winter and McAllister Honors Recitals, and master classes with renowned guest artists. Additionally, these students qualify for a 50% tuition discount on any music theory group class – these classes are instrumental in any young musician’s development as it helps them explore and understand the inner workings of their craft. Note that this discount only applies to year-long enrollments; students who register late in the year may not qualify.
The Community School accepts new private lesson students at any time throughout the year. All students interested in private lessons must first submit an inquiry using the form below.
During the Summer Session, students who enroll in a 8 Lesson Package of 45 minutes or more will receive 10% off of their lesson tuition. Students who enroll in a 16 Lesson Package of 45 minutes or more will receive 15% off of their lesson tuition.
Inquiry Form
Approximately 7 days after submitting your inquiry, you will be notified by the appropriate department chair to set up an interview and/or audition in order to determine placement.
For 2023–24 private instruction pricing, please see page 3 in the Schedule of Classes. Need-based scholarships are available for qualifying students.
The Community School is proud to offer a wide selection of student ensembles, giving students of varying ages and ability levels the opportunity to collaborate with their peers and develop their musicianship.
Auditions for the 2024–25 academic year are open for the following ensembles:
All other ensembles may accept auditions depending on ensemble needs. Please submit an inquiry for more information.
The Cello Choir will focus on developing music reading and ensemble playing skills. The class will be taught by Carlyn Kessler.
Weekly on Wednesdays, 6–6:50 pm
Prerequisites: Participants must study privately and have good, intermediate sight reading skills. Previous group class, ensemble, or orchestral experience is encouraged.
4th grade; must be 9 years old by September 1, 2024
Scherzo, C. Webster (Suzuki Book 3)
Auditions for the 2024–25 academic year for Cello Choir will be held through an online submission process. The application period will close on July 15. Applications submitted after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Once classes reach their maximum capacity with qualified students, no additional applications will be considered.
Audition results will be sent to the email address given for the student’s primary guardian by July 22. Accepted students must register by August 1.
Please record yourself playing a G major scale in 2 octaves, a solo piece, and 2 samples of your choosing from the sight reading excerpts linked below. Please prepare the samples on your own without help from any parent, sibling, friend, or teacher. Please state the numbers you have selected before performing them.
Do not use an accompanist. Upload the video to YouTube and share the link in the application form below.
Sight Reading Excerpts
Cello Choir Application Form