The OC Artist of the Year Award is an annual award to celebrate students of great talents throughout Orange County. The awards recognizes several categories including music, dance, visual arts, theatre and film. The winners are selected through numerous nominations and an extensive voting process.
Aliso Niguel holds several talented students who have been recognized as nominees for this award. The nominees for this year’s awards include seniors Mia Perez, Jordan Brown, Grace Dimapilis, Erin Monahan, Tae Eun Jung, Dana Smith, Kai Coleman, Lauren Melchor, Nox Lane and Talar Keshishian.
These nominees specialize in different aspects in the arts and represent what they do with the utmost passion.
For directing, Talar Keshishian and Mia Perez represent Aliso Niguel with their two student directed shows that were performed this past March. Keshishian spent the past year directing the sweet romantic comedy play, “Almost, Maine.” Alongside the production of Keshishian’s show, Perez dedicated her time to the musical, “Failure: A Love Story,” a tale about the tragic deaths of the Fail sisters.
Mia Perez shares, “Theatre has been my creative sanctuary and home for the past 4 years. I’ve learned so much being in theatre about being a leader, an artist, and most importantly, I’ve learned who I am and what kind of person I want to be. Being in theatre has truly been one of the best parts of coming to ANHS each day the past 4 years, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Joining theatre freshman year was one of the best decisions I ever made, because I had no idea how it could change my life.”
Jordan Brown, the senior nominee for Musical Theatre Performance, has been on the stage for as long as she can remember. Currently starring as Sandra in the musical, “Big Fish,” Brown finds her passion in theatre and the magic behind it all.
Ready to say good-bye to her time in Aliso Niguel Theatre Company, Brown shares, “The theater is more than just a safe place; it’s my sanctuary, my haven away from the chaos of the world. Within its embrace, I find not only refuge but also a vibrant community that uplifts and supports me wherever I go. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of connection and the joy of shared creativity. I’m endlessly thankful for the profound experience of belonging to this extraordinary community, which feels like a second home to me”.
Although some find comfort in singing their hearts out, senior Dana Smith, finds the most comfort when dancing.
Grace Dimapilis has dedicated her high school career with light design and has been recognized for her immense talent.
Although many lean towards life on and off stage, seniors Nox Lane, Lauren Melchor, Kai Coleman and Erin Monahan, find to be the happiest when painting.
All these nominees represent Aliso Niguel with their immense talents and will leave a lasting impact on our school, making it a more colorful and creative place for all.
