CSArts-SGV's dynamic arts education curriculum includes numerous pre-professional opportunities for students in all conservatories. One of the most influential modes of instruction comes from students working alongside and learning from working artists in their chosen field of study. These once-in-a-lifetime interactions and experiences fuel our students’ creative drive and inspiration.
Through the Master Artist Series, students have the privilege of studying with nationally renowned guest artists in a variety of master classes, workshops, and performance experiences. These leading industry professionals have a profound impact on the students’ education and often serve as their mentors and inspiration as they advance to higher education and a professional career in the arts. Guest artists and master teachers have included many esteemed professionals, including Debbie Allen, Joshua Bell, Francis Ford Coppola, Neil Gaiman, Marvin Hamlisch, Nigel Lythgoe, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Lindsay Mendez, Matthew Morrison, Bebe Neuwirth, Cathy Rigby, Anna Deavere Smith, Deborah Voigt, and more.
Performing with the Pros gives students in the Musical Theatre Conservatory the chance to study and perform alongside celebrated Broadway stars, such as Jason Robert Brown, Liz Callaway, Susan Egan (’88), Eden Espinosa, Krysta Rodriguez ('02), and Ali Stroker, among others. This annual event is the culmination of a two-week master class in which a guest artist works with 35 to 45 students to develop a fully staged production, featuring pieces with the guest artist, the students, and the combined cast. Students are not only given the incredible opportunity to share the stage with Broadway legends, but they are able to hone their skills with performance insights and critiques from the pros.
FUSION, CSArts SGV's cross-departmental performing ensemble, is an auditioned group of singers and dancers who prepare for off-campus performances as well as Preview Days, Season Finale, and other special engagements.
California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley and Santa Monica-based production company mediaV have partnered to develop the “Incubator Project,” a one-of-a-kind collaboration that gives students within the CSArts-SGV Musical Theatre Conservatory the opportunity to be the first to originate and produce a series of brand new rock musicals. Using the works of William Shakespeare as source material, the Incubator Project creates modern and relevant musicals premiered by CSArts-SGV students and subsequently made available for the public to license and perform. Musical Theatre students workshop the new production in class and premiere it the following year.