What is CoSA ? Students by Conservatory Staff
Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) is San Diego County’s premier public school arts conservatory, home to 200 scholar artists grades 9 through 12, who attend the nationally ranked Coronado High School. CoSA provides an intense, pre-professional arts education to students from Coronado and from all over San Diego, who are admitted after a competitive application/audition process.
Each school day CoSA offers three or more hours of instruction, pairing young artists with educators who are also industry specialists. With a curriculum designed by professional artist/educators, students are immersed in their chosen specialty in one of six conservatories: Classical and Contemporary Dance, Digital Arts (Animation, Filmmaking, and Graphic Design), Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre & Drama, Theatre Production, Design & Management and Visual Art. CoSA is a State of California-approved Career Technical Education program.
Karrie Jackson Shane Schmeical Deidra Smith
Letter from the Editor CoSA Council Nicolas Hacker
CoSA has provided me with so many unique opportunities and the ability to make the most of them. I have been able to complete so many interesting projects both inside and out of class. Therefore when I learned about the opportunity to make this book, I knew I had to do it. In this yearbook I wanted to capture the memories of this year for everyone. Thank you to everyone who is apart of CoSA, and I hope you enjoy!
President
CoSA Council is a great way to get more involved in the CoSA community and to get to know students from other conservatories. In CoSA council, we have weekly meetings and plan lots of fun events for students and parents. We also share about what events are going on in our own conservatory (shows, exhibits, plays, etc.) to spread information and build inter-conservatory support.
Trunk or Treat
UNRAVEL
Milly Cocanig
Ana Sophia Francisco
Olivia Frost
George Greeves
Ella Hoey
Eleanor McLellan
Lily McMaster
Maddie Paat
Abigail Pearson
Noemi Swearigen
Zoe Sweet
Elise Trullinger
Jeriah Valentin
Marina Villegas
Instructor: Gina Sorensen
About
CoSA’s Classical and Contemporary Dance conservatory focuses on training in concert dance techniques—ballet and contemporary dance—and developing creative artistry and skills in choreography. The heart of the program is composition and improvisation, the experience of being a practicing artist. Students create their own work with guidance from the faculty by exploring diverse styles that are interesting to them.
Guest artists create or reset dances with CoSA’s dance students, giving them the opportunity to work from many different professional approaches. Students are provided with a spectrum of dance instruction that includes cultural styles from around the world, and ancient dance forms up to the latest trends in dance.
Flamenco, hip hop, tap, jazz and many other styles have been included in various repertory pieces by faculty and student choreographers.
Academic studies include dance history, theory, criticism, nutrition and dance cultures of the world. Field trips and internships complement the classroom instruction, which takes place in one of two state-of-the art dance studios.
A key component of the conservatory program is assessment by a jury of faculty and professionals at the end of each semester. Each jury is aligned to the conservatory’s benchmarks for dance achievement (evidence of technical skills) and performance (both solo and ensemble). Students perform in two dance concerts each year on the Main Stage, as well as several other community events.
Graphic Design Animation
Film Graphic Design Animation Film
HORROR NIGHT B-Movies
AboutDigital Arts
Students accepted to CoSA’s Digital Arts conservatory focus on one of three strands: Graphic Design – computer imagery, typography, graphic arts, web design, and photography; Filmmaking – using film to tell stories, events or news, from concept to screenwriting to production or broadcast; Animation – computerized drawing, software manipulation, character and story development, production of an animated story. The four-year curriculum sequence includes not only design elements and principles of art, but also business skills, portfolio building, a senior project and internship opportunities. Classroom study is complemented by field trips and industry guest speakers. A key component of the conservatory experience is assessment by a jury of faculty and professionals at the end of each semester. Classrooms are comprised of work stations with state-of-the-art Apple computers, a video broadcast studio, video-editing capabilities, smart boards and other equipment and technology to help students graduate from the program with industry certifications.
Jose "Joey" Aguayo
Amelie Ahumada
Khloe Aramburo
Hudson Baker
Andres Barraza
Zabelie Bosdet
Oliver Brown
Naia Bryce
Alivia Buell
Sandra Butros
Savannah Connolly
Madaline Davis
Cameron Davis
Anyssa Finnegan
Mica Gistaro
Sophia Gresham
Pearl Gullberg
Malia Gunnarson Hanniah
Gutierrez-Mascareno
Nicolas Hacker
Tyler Hart
Annika Haslam
Leslie Julien
Lily Kirk Raissi
Olivia Kloppel
Auriela Lara
Ruby Martinez
Savannah McCauley
Kariamne "Alina"
Molina-Murrieta
Dominic Peters
Emilia Peterson
Lucia Reynoso Torres
H Rodgers
Parker Rodgers
Savo Simic
Lilia Spiegel
Theo Suarez
Oliver Surdykowski
Valentina Toomey
Ethan Wahamaki
Cadence Wright
Instructors:
Anna Woerman
Michelle Evenson
Olivia Kloppel
(Graphic Design)
I joined CoSA because I have always loved doing art, so when I found out that I. could make a career out of it I got really excited and joined. When I graduate I want to either do freelance graphic design or work for an agency to do a variety of graphic design projects. CoSA prepared me for this by giving me access to software and teaching me how to use it all. Working with other students and teachers also gave me a lot of feedback on my work and how I can improve. I met some of my best friends through my CoSA classes and am very happy to have joined.
Lucia Reynoso Torres (Animation)
I joined CoSA because I wanted the chance to improve my art skills. I have always been interested in animation and comics, and love that I get to pursue that in school. I am in the Animation strand of Digital Arts and I have worked on so many projects in the past four years. In the future I plan to put what I have learned in CoSA towards a career in the design world, working on comics and animations.
Sandra Butros (Film)
I joined CoSA because I have always been passionate about film and wanted the chance to pursue it even more in high school. I have really enjoyed the past 4 years of getting to do interesting projects and get better at filmmaking. I've met so many great people and hope to continue using what I have learned in the future.
About
Instrumental Music
The Instrumental Music conservatory emphasizes the study of classical and jazz music. Music professionals coach students weekly throughout the year. Students receive intensive training in their chosen instrument(s) in wind, percussion, brass, jazz and string. Students study music theory,, ear training, jazz theory and improvisation, electronic music skills, composition and orchestration. Classes are also offered in music history and culture, music technology and the music business. Students have access to a state-of-the art computerized music studio where students compose, arrange and record music. In addition to CoSA’s large music studio, there are several soundproof practice rooms. Students play piano, drums, violin, viola, cello, saxophone, electric guitar, tuba, trombone or any other instrument they desire to learn. As a music elective, they may also play in the Coronado High School Band.
Sophia Bushey
Chase Clapper
Scout Cross
Mirren Fallon
Mackenzie Fallon
Finley Holzer
Diego Jimenez
Adrian Jimenez
Reed Karosich
Robert "Bobby" Latona
Sofia Martinez
Giovanni Montero
Kai Slappy
Danielle Stanich
Yuri Teixido Grillo
Aleksandru Vaida
Lucas Wagner
Luca Wustman
Instructor: Matthew Heinecke
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER CABARET
About
In CoSA’s award-winning Musical Theatre & Drama conservatory, students with a passion for performing receive in-depth training in acting, singing and dancing. They also study Theatre History from the Greeks to the present day, Shakespeare, Scene Study (scene analysis), Voice and Diction, Directing, Playwriting, Show Biz and AP Music Theory. Classroom curriculum is complemented by field trips and guest artists.
Students are given multiple opportunities to perform each year: CoSA’s fall and spring musicals draw large audiences from the community and San Diego, as does our winter play. Students can participate in the Musical Tour Group, where students sing and perform for community groups; REP Company, in which they create, write and direct their own scenes or the comedic, award-winning Improv group. Students are frequently asked to perform at local public and private events. A key component of the conservatory experience is semester jury assessments by faculty and professionals.
Delilah Alvarez
Maya Armstrong
Ysabella Barazza
Claire Belflower
Maren Billington
Kachina Borunda
Yanch
Emily Braud
Ella Chious
Julia Davidson
Lilian DeSisto
Bruno Dominguez
Caroline Foster
Kaia "Ash" Fuhrman Gracie Garcia/Peterson
Luca Hansen
Alexis Herndon
Alesandra Herring
Maya Hurst
Paige Koczan
Haissam Kouli
Roxy Lagevin
Jaylyn Leach
Kaia Lobato
Paulina Mange
Colin McGrath
Katie Moreno
Addison Munsterman
Amelia Nelson
Addison Nesbitt
Amanda Nurding
J.P. Wishchuk
Instructors:
Elliott
Hildebrand (Tech)
I am a CoSA tech 4th year, I have always had a greater interest in lighting so that’s where I’ve spent most of my CoSA career, I’ve done a lot of assistant lighting designing and even got the opportunity to take on the full responsibility of Cabaret’s lighting design which was a really great experience! I am so grateful for my time in CoSA I’ve met so many great people and have gotten to collaborate with my friends in an art form that I truly love, tech has helped me grow and push myself myself to be better, if I could I would do it all over again.
Maya Bell
Giana Bertrand
Elle Bradbury
Madison Brown
Selena Clark
Dominika Czapla
Jenna Edison
Rosie Enciso
Elliott Hildebrand
Ethan Hsu
Daniel Hsu
Zoe Miller
Maverick
Mounteer
Kamila Nunez
Donovan Peters
Robert Sanchez
Ella Smith
Anika Talavera
Mia Torres
Rae Ullrich
Instructors: Coleman Clark
Sebastian Dillingham
About
CoSA’s Theatre Production, Design & Management students are some of the busiest high school students in Southern California! The Coronado Performing Arts Center at CHS, which opened in 2007 and received a $2 million upgrade in 2010, includes a 570-seat theatre complete with an orchestra pit and fly space, Vortek computerized lift system and computerized sound and lighting system, and a more intimate 80-seat Black Box theatre. Since 2020, CUSD, the City of Coronado, CoSA Foundation, Coronado Island Film Festival, Coronado Schools Foundation, and the Coronado Community Foundation collaborated to secure funds to update technology. This is an ongoing project that will support the broader community to a high quality experience when attending any event in The Coronado Performing Arts Center and will provide student learners updated technology experience.
The students in Theatre Production, Design and Management also known as "Technical Theatre Techies," study set design and build sets for CoSA productions in the fully-equipped scene shop. They learn elements of lighting design, as well as how to operate a complex computerized lighting system. They study costuming, make-up, sound design, and stage, box office, and house management. With over 70 theatre events annually, both for the school and for groups who rent our facilities, the students have ample opportunity for on-the-job work experience. Graduates of the program have been trained to problem solve, think on their feet and react to changing scenarios, and manage crews safely in fast-paced environments.
A key component of the conservatory experience is semester jury assessment by faculty and professionals. When possible, techies are taken on field trips to other stages and performance venues in southern California to broaden the depth of knowledge about their craft.
Wendy Alcaraz
Isabella Arroyo
Chloe Barry
Addison Bayless
Leo Bright
Benjamin Byars
Alexa Corona
Mia Coronado
Nico Derkash
Kora Gilbert
Swaran Jouhal
Abigail Kim
Pablo Lavalle
Luciano Mancilla
Lena Matsutani
Olivia McKissick
Sebastian Neil
Emma Olson
Chloe Shaffer
Joseph Shanefelt
Rhys Ventresca
Isabella Vilcans
River Wadleigh
Zoe Werth
Instructor: Karrie Jackson
About
Students in CoSA’s Visual Art study the fundamentals of art, art business and life drawing using live models. In the study of art history, centuries of art up to and including contemporary artists are covered. Students develop perceptual skills and visual literacy.
Each student creates and develops their personal body of work, honing their technical skills as they produce their own extensive portfolio over the four-year course of study. They analyze and discuss art, including their own, in an inspiring artistic community. A variety of mediums are explored and students have a unique opportunity to engage in the creative process.
Students exhibit their work at an annual spring Visual Art Exhibition at CoSA, and throughout the school year at various commercial establishments and public venues in Coronado.
A key component of the conservatory experience is semester jury assessment by faculty and arts professionals. Class curriculum is supported by field trips and guest artists (including live models) who come to enrich the classroom experience.
