IRVINE, Calif. – May 27, 2026 – Orange County Music & Dance, Southern California’s premier after-school pre-K to 12 performing arts school dedicated to cultivating the whole child through a rigorous and programmatic path to mastery, has launched a pre-conservatory program encompassing the disciplines of music and dance as a feeder to its recently announced Conservatory initiative for students in grades 9-12.
The new Pre-Conservatory Performing Arts program is designed for students in grades 6-8 and will commence this coming fall. It will serve young students who are passionate, talented and aspire to take their artistic training to the next level. Instruction will be offered in Classical Music, Popular Music, Jazz Music, Musical Theatre, Choral/Vocal Music, Classical Dance and Commercial Dance.
“This new initiative is a significant extension of our ongoing pursuit of excellence in cultural resources through arts education for children, young adults and families in Southern California. And it further strengthens the pathways available for those students who, at an early age, are seeking a premier experience that supports their goals,” said Dr. Ralph Opacic, President and CEO of Orange County Music & Dance and Founder of the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts and California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley. “In addition, we are equally pleased to continue building out an already extraordinary faculty team with the addition of three esteemed new colleagues.”
The OC Music & Dance Conservatory is a college-preparatory, pre-professional training program designed for dedicated high school students performing at an intermediate to advanced level. The immersive program is built for students who are serious about developing their artistry, refining their technical skills, and preparing for collegiate study or a professional career.
Students engage in a comprehensive curriculum that balances individual growth with collaborative experience. Each track is designed to reflect real-world industry expectations while maintaining a strong foundation in technique, performance quality and artistic integrity. The Pre-Conservatory offers the same tracks for a seamless transition.
In addition, Pre-Conservatory students will have the opportunity to train with the same world-class faculty that includes some of the finest dance and music educators in Southern California. Along with the announcement of this new program, Orange County Music & Dance welcomes Dr. Sarkis Baltaian, Rachel Chang (Oberg) and Dr. Brian Dehn to the artistic team.
Dr. Baltaian an internationally recognized pianist, educator and arts administrator who holds Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California. As a performer, he has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in the United States and Europe and performed at distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall. An award-winning artist and active adjudicator, he has served on juries for national and international piano competitions and presented master classes worldwide. He also served for 14 years as Director of the Instrumental Music Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts.
Chang (Oberg) is a ballet educator and performer with a strong foundation in classical training and dance education. Most recently, she served as a ballet and pointe instructor in the classical/contemporary dance program at the Orange County School of the Arts. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Education from the University of Utah, where she also received her teaching certification and trained with several esteemed instructors. She has performed professionally with Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Contemporary Ballet Dallas, appearing in roles such as a soloist in American Ballads: Blue Trio and featured roles in Romeo and Juliet and Boogie Woogie Christmas Carol. She has also performed nationwide as a guest artist in The Nutcracker.
Dr. Dehn brings extensive experience as a conductor, educator and vocalist across collegiate, community and professional settings. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting and Baroque Performance Practice, a Master of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Conducting with emphases in Music Education and Vocal Performance. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Meistersingers, a community-based semi-professional choral ensemble. He also is currently the Artistic Director for the 70-voice Southern California Master Chorale and has led numerous ensembles, educational programs, and performances throughout Southern California and the world.
Students are admitted to the Pre-Conservatory program by audition and are held to high artistic and professional standards, with an emphasis on consistency, collaboration and creative exploration. Applications are being accepted now with a deadline of June 15 for priority acceptance. Registrations will conclude when program capacity is reached.
For information on the wide array of programs available at Orange County Music & Dance, visit www.ocmusicdance.org.
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About Orange County Music & Dance
Orange County Music & Dance is the premier after-school pre-K to 12 performing arts school in Southern California, dedicated to cultivating the “whole child” through a rigorous and programmatic, yet welcoming and empowering, path to mastery. By integrating world-class artistic training with modern industry skills and a focus on cognitive development, its after-school programs provide a stable and prolific “third home” where students don’t just learn to perform, they learn to lead. Graduates emerge with the elite proficiency, skill, technological fluency and disciplined character required to command any stage, boardroom or creative frontier in the world of tomorrow. www.ocmusicdance.org.