Arts

List of 5 members.

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  Neal Von Flue 

  VPA Department Chair and VPA Faculty

  Bio

  Neal Von Flue is an artist and educator with a strong foundation of traditional art techniques and expert knowledge of digital media. He spent 15 years as a creative professional and educator with the El Segundo Unified School District, civic organizations, and private instruction. Before coming to Vistamar, he was a designer and Program Specialist with the City of El Segundo.
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  Silvie Deutsch 

  Arts Faculty

  Bio

  Silvie Deutsch is so excited to begin teaching 3-D Studio Art at Vistamar this year. Before joining Vistamar, she taught Visual Art in Los Angeles Independent Schools for six years, as well as undergraduate courses in Sculpture at UC Irvine. She is an interdisciplinary and collaborative artist and creates interactive sculpture, installation, public art, and paintings. Her teaching and art practice revolve around building communities and creating the conditions for collectivity, joy, awe, and play through art. She received a B.A. with High Honors in Art Studio from Wesleyan University, and a MFA in Art from UC Irvine. She lives in LA with her two cats, loves doing yoga, pottery, and was in a girl band when she was in high school.
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  Jason Gamer 

  Music Director, Music Teacher

  Bio

  Dr. Jason Gamer earned degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music (B.Mus) and the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music (M.Mus, DMA). From 2008-2010 he served as an Assistant Professor at Utah State University where he was Director of Music Theory, and taught private and group lessons in Applied Trumpet Performance. He was also a Lecturer at California State University Dominguez Hills, and in Spring 2010, was invited as a guest instructor to the Utrecht School of the Arts in Utrecht, Holland. Jason plays trumpet in several ensembles including the New West Symphony, St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; he performs with Hollywood Klezmer, Orchestre Surreal and is also a studio musician. An accomplished conductor, Jason has led the Los Angeles Russian String Orchestra and conducted during the inaugural season of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in 2005. From 1995-2006, he served as music director and conductor of the Wild Ginger Philharmonic, which he co-founded. In 2004, Jason received the prestigious Founder's Award for Humanity in the Arts from ICAP, the International Committee of Artists for Peace.
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  Michael McClain 

  Theatre Director

  Bio

  Michael has been a director and educator in Los Angeles for the past 10 years. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Oklahoma City University as well as a double minor in Directing and Theatre Design and Production with an emphasis in Stage Management. Michael discovered his passion for education back in Oklahoma, where he started working as an arts educator with Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. Since then, Michael has worked for some of the leading U.S. theatre companies including Seattle Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre, A Noise Within, Seattle Theatre Group, Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Disney Theatricals, and Center Theatre Group. Notable productions Michael has directed include Legally Blonde, Spring Awakening, Clue: On-Stage, Eurydice, An Evening With Shakespeare, Chicago, The Ride, New Kid on the Block, and Othello. Michael's background is in creating sustainable theatre programs and pushing students to be the best artists they can be.
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  Alex Tauber 

  Technical Director, VPA Faculty

  Bio

  Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, Alex Tauber has been banging on the drums since he was a baby.  Alex earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Teaching Credential from California State Dominguez Hills. Alex has previously worked teaching private music lessons around the south bay community and most recently taught at Fusion Academy in Hermosa Beach for the last 5 years. When Alex is not working he can be found playing in his garden, surfing with friends in San-Onofre, and camping in Big Sur.