One World. One Idyllwild. The Series

Teale Sperling is the Senior Manager of Preschool Television for Mattel.  Some of her producing and development credits include: the upcoming Barney Reboot on MAX, Barbie Vlogs digital series on YouTube with over 11 million subscribers, Fireman Sam preschool TV series, The Toy Box competition series on ABC and the Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie documentary on Hulu.  Prior to her development career, Teale was an actress with the privilege of performing onstage at venues such as Radio City Music Hall and The Globe Theater in London.  Teale Sperling is a graduate of Idyllwild Arts Academy, where she studied Dramatic Arts. 

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One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

Maya Osterman-Van Grack is a graduate of Idyllwild Arts Academy and the University of Colorado where she graduated with a focus in applied theater through the Interactive Theatre Project (a theater ensemble utilizing Theatre of the Oppressed techniques to address social justice issues on campus). After graduating from the University of Columbia, Maya became an Assistant Director for the Interactive Theatre Project where she began to learn the art form of facilitation She then created the ACTivism Theatre Ensemble, a company of high school and college students performing an educational outreach/prevention play for the Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center throughout Colorado. Maya created and toured the one woman show, For Sale - addressing sex trafficking in America throughout the country. She then worked with survivors of sex trafficking and social workers on processing their trauma through the power of theater. She founded Restorative Theater in 2014 at the Dillon Youth Detention Center. She joined Mirror Image Arts (MIA) in 2015 and is now the Executive Director of Programs. Mirror Image Arts’ mission is to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline with a passion and purpose to imagine and create collective liberation for all. 

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

Marisa Hamamoto is a graduate of Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the first professional dancer to be named to People Magazine's “Women Changing the World.” She is a leading authority on disability inclusion and building a culture of belonging, Marisa has been named LinkedIn Top Voice, and has been featured on "Good Morning America", "NBC Today", amongst other media outlets, and her work tracks over 100 million views across social media. As a sought-after international speaker and performing artist, Marisa has shared the stage with Tim Cook at Apple HQ’s Steve Jobs Theater, and her partners and collaborators include Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta, Red Bull, adidas, PayPal, among other global forward-thinking brands. Marisa is a stroke survivor, a late-diagnosed Autistic, and a proud fourth-generation Japanese American. She is the founder of Infinite Flow, an award-winning dance company and nonprofit that employs disabled and non-disabled dancers with a mission to create a more inclusive world, one dance at a time. 

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

Audrey Carver is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Idyllwild, CA. She graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University in 2022, with a self-designed major in Scientific Communication. She has had both solo and group expositions in Cuenca (kwen - ca), Ecuador,  Palm Springs, Idyllwild,  San Diego, and Boston. She has worked as an artist-in-residence and science communication fellow at Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD, the Climate Science Alliance, Cabrillo National Monument, and Tijuana River National Estuarine (Es tura rin) Reserve. She was awarded Artist Enterprise Laboratory Grants from Idyllwild Arts Academy in 2015, 2016, and 2017 for public works. She was a speaker at the 2020 San Diego Climate Summit, where she addressed the importance of interdisciplinary science communication, and was the curator for the 2023 San Diego Climate Summit art show, hosted by the San Diego Natural History Museum.  

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

Jacob is a critically-acclaimed woodwind specialist with over 50 chart-topping credits alongside his returning roll as on call saxophonist for “American Idol” & “The Voice” for the past 7 years. Jacob's career spans over a decade, with performances at iconic venues like Wembley Stadium, Crypto.com Arena, Red Rocks, and more. He recently contributed to a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination for his musical work on the film, “Babylon.”  With experience performing on hit shows like “The Ellen Show”, “NFL Thanksgiving Halftime 2018”, “Dick Clark’s New Years Eve”, “The Colbert Show”, & “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, Jacob's talent has taken him to 50 states and over 40 countries. Most recently Jacob performed on this years Kennedy Center Honors, Academy Awards & Grammy Awards.

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

At Idyllwild Arts Academy, we have the privilege of watching our talented students soar to new heights. Musical Theatre major Omar Andre Real did just that—and on a Broadway stage—at the 2023 Jimmy Awards, a renowned national theatre competition known as “the Tonys for teenagers.” Performing on behalf of Idyllwild Arts among 95 other student nominees from high schools across the U.S., Andre was chosen as one of only 8 finalists and was selected by his peers for the “Spirit of the Jimmys” award.

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

Tryana, an 18-year-old daydreamer, songwriter, and performing artist, recently graduated from the Idyllwild Arts Academy with the class of 2024. From the age of 8, she's been honing her craft, taking piano lessons and immersing herself in the musical theater community. Her love for diverse genres, including Mexican music, Italian anthologies, pop, and R&B, reflects her boundless creativity.

Deeply believing in the power of empathy in art, Tryana sees herself as a storyteller who inspires others to express themselves authentically. Kindness, passion, and the desire to create meaningful narratives are at the core of her identity as an artist and student.

Currently, she's collaborating on an EP with LA producer Arturo Alvarez and working on a song for a Mexican Sony film. Tryana's artistic journey has been marked by notable milestones, including opening for REIK at the Cancun bullring in September 2022, where she debuted her single "Cold Eyes."

Her artistry extends beyond traditional boundaries, as seen in her collaborations with the Playa del Carmen Symphony Orchestra and her solo performances at the Teatro de la Ciudad in Playa Del Carmen. In May 2023, her second solo concert, "Daydreaming," showcased her talent alongside Playa del Carmen's finest.

Not confined to stages, Tryana embarked on a heartwarming tour of California elementary schools, bringing the story of Pinocchio to life in a vibrant and interactive performance. Her portrayal of Wendla in "Spring Awakening" further solidified her ability to captivate audiences with her emotive vocals and profound character understanding.

As she anticipates her studies at Idyllwild Arts School in California, Tryana remains dedicated to spreading joy and inspiration through her art. With each performance, she invites audiences to join her on a journey where dreams become reality, and the human spirit soars.

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

This is a bonus episode - watch the full episode of John's interview called "I See You. I Love You. And You Belong."

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

This episode was shot live on the Idyllwild Arts Campus, with students from the Jazz In The Pines Student Clinic in the audience to support one of their instructors in the program, John Daversa, Chair of Studio Music and Jazz at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. John is an internationally respected performer, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, educator, and recording artist. In 2019, John won three Grammys for American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom including Best Large Jazz Ensemble, Best Instrumental Arrangement & Best Improvised Jazz Solo. Dr. Daversa’s celebrated career has included appearances on “The Today Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” as well as such musical gatherings as the Montreal Jazz Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival. He has recorded with such notable and distinguished artists as Herbie Hancock, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow and The Yellowjackets.

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/

This episode features Dr. Lorne Buchman, President Emeritus of ArtCenter College of Design, an international leader in art and design education. When Buchman was appointed president in 2009, he quickly engaged his community to define what a great art and design college should be in the early 21st century. His talent for gaining consensus among diverse constituencies proved key to ArtCenter’s mission-driven growth. During Buchman’s presidency, the College increased the undergraduate and graduate degree programs and realized record enrollments. His passion and deep commitment to excellence in education has generated an unprecedented response from alumni and foundations. As part of the president’s advocacy for the value of art and design to audiences beyond academia, Buchman hosts the podcast, Change Lab: Conversations on Transformation and Creativity. Dr. Buchman has served as president of both Saybrook University and California College of the Arts . A trained theater director and scholar, Buchman is the author of Still in Movement: Shakespeare on Screen. His book, Make to Know: From Spaces of Uncertainty to Creative Discovery, was published by Thames & Hudson in August of last year.

Subscribe at idyllwildarts.org/theseries

One World. One Idyllwild. The Series. brings together thought leaders, creatives, influencers and changemakers, highlighting the work of citizen artists whose careers and lives have been shaped by the transformative power of art.

Executive Producer & Host: Idyllwild Arts Foundation President, Pamela Jordan

Please consider making a gift: https://idyllwildarts.org/giving/