Summer Orientation

Please plan to attend one of these meetings so you don’t miss out on important info on bus stops, excursions, and what to pack. Students are encouraged to attend this meeting as it is their first chance to meet some of their fabulous counselors! Please bring all forms and payments with you.

June 6, 7:00 pm, Building A, Board Room
June 11, 10:00 a.m., Building D, Rooms 1004-06

Both meetings are at the Orange County Dept. of Education, 200 Kalmus Dr., Costa Mesa. 

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AXP Events This Week

AXP Welcome Night
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Piano soloist Yuja Wang has been replaced due to illness. She is being replaced by Conrad Tao who is just 16 years old!

When:         Concert begins at 3 pm 

Where:       Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Orange County Performing Arts Center

Parking:     Parking is available in adjacent structures and at the Wyndham Hotel for $8-10.  OCPAC is also accessible by OCTA. 

What to wear: These are afternoon casual concerts, so wear what makes you comfortable.

***Be sure to stop by the Welcome Table in the lobby to get a special treat!***

Tickets are available for purchase until 4 pm on June 3.
1.     Call the Pacific Symphony Box Office at (714) 755-5799.
2.     Mention you are from arts-X-press to receive the special discount price (Students: $10, Adults: $20)3.     Pick your tickets up at the Will Call window.

For maps, information on restaurants, and lots more info, click on “Enhance Your Experience” at www.pacificsymphony.org
We do not recommend this concert for children under the age of 8.
This is an optional event, but we hope to see you there!

Summer Orientations
Please plan to attend one of these meetings so you don’t miss out on important info on bus stops, excursions, and what to pack. Students are encouraged to attend this meeting as it is their first chance to meet some of their fabulous counselors! Please bring all forms and payments with you.

June 6, 7:00 pm, Building A, Board Room
June 11, 10:00 a.m., Building D, Rooms 1004-06

Both meetings are at the Orange County Dept. of Education, 200 Kalmus St., Costa Mesa. 

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See you soon!

Forms due Friday!

Don't forget that this Friday, May 20, is the deadline for forms and payments (unless you are on a payment plan.)  Please make sure your forms are postmarked by Friday--no need to drive them down to the office.

If your pink form will be late because of your doctor's schedule, send the rest of your forms by May 20. Then call or e-mail to let us know when to expect the pink form.

If you need copies of any of the forms, they are available for download:
2011 Preparation Checklist (blue)
Camper Health History (green)
Licensed Medical Provider (pink)
Waiver of Liability (gray)
Release for Administration of Medicine (purple)
Search, Photo, Media Release (orange)
Application for Financial Aid (salmon)

2011 Counselors

We are so pleased and proud to introduce our 2011 Counselors! These 24 AXP alumni made it through a highly competitive selection process and will join us for summer fun. A whopping 14 of the smiling faces you see below are returning veteran counselors. Be sure to attend the summer orientations on June 6 or June 11 to meet them!

Forms, forms, forms!

Don't forget that all your forms and payments are due on May 20.  If you are missing any of your forms, they are available for download:

2011 Preparation Checklist
Camper Health History
Licensed Medical Provider
Waiver of Liability
Release for Administration of Medicine
Search, Photo, Media Release
Application for Financial Aid

We look forward to seeing you at the June orientation meetings!

Meet the Staff

Stephanie and Yolanda at the 10-year reunion in 2010

Introducing Lead Coordinator Yolanda Galvez! Yolanda will only be new to you if you are brand new to AXP. You may have met her when she was a student in 2002, Session 3 or you may have been in her group when she was a counselor in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010. As you will imagine, we liked her so much we had to give her a job.

Mo with Carl St.Clair at Heisler Park on Pageant Day, 2010

Yolanda grew up in Santa Ana, graduating from St. Margaret's. Her favorite art form is vocal music, followed closely by theater, visual art, instrumental music and dance--she is a true AXP risk-taker! After attending arts-X-press as an almost-7th grader, she found a new love for theater and took her very first audition soon after.

Yolanda has had many magic moments, but her favorite one is of a student who, on the very first day, told her "I know now why you guys do this." We are so glad that we have been able to keep Yolanda for another year. She will be joined by her fellow alumni Coordinators Stephanie Garcia and Mo Jaffrey on campus this summer.

2010, Session 3 students may remember Yolanda's best friend, Eeyore

Only 3 Registration Meetings Left!

It was great to meet so many of you last week in Irvine, Lake Forest, and Newport-Mesa.  Don't forget that all incoming arts-X-pressers need to have at least one parent or guardian attend one of the remaining registration meetings to get their paperwork and information  fees and financial aid. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.  Please attend the meeting that is most convenient for you.  No RSVP is necessary!

Monday, April 4, 7:00-8:30 pm
Garden Grove Unified School District Office, Annex Conference Room
10331 Stanford Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Spanish and Vietnamese translators available

Tuesday, April 5, 7:00-8:30 pm
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Office, Board Room
1301 Orangethorpe Avenue
Placentia, CA 92870

Wednesday, April 13, 7:00-8:30 pm
Santa Ana Unified School District Office, Training Room
1601 E. Chestnut Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Spanish translator available

View AXP orientations on a map

2011 Forms

Lost or misplaced a registration form? You can download them here:

2011 Preparation Checklist
Camper Health History
Licensed Medical Provider
Waiver of Liability
Release for Administration of Medicine
Search, Photo, Media Release

AXP Question of the Day

Question: Do I need to RSVP for a registration meeting?

Answer: No RSVP is necessary.  Please just come to whichever meeting is most convenient for you.  Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.

AXP Question of the Day

Question: When will I found out which session of arts-X-press I have been assigned to?

Answer: Session assignments and all your registration paperwork will be distributed at the registration meetings in March and April, so be sure to attend.  If your availability has changed since you submitted your application, please let us know by phone or by e-mail as soon as possible.

2011 Session dates are:
Session 1 - July 16-20
Session 2 - July 23-27
Session 3 - July 31-August 3

Bonus FAQ: Can I switch sessions after the assignments have been made?
Maybe. If we have an opening in the session you prefer, we will make every effort to accommodate your request. If we cannot move you immediately, we will put you on a waiting list and notify you when/if we are able to change your session.

Welcome to the Class of 2011

A big AXP welcome to the class of 2011!  Welcome letters have been mailed, so look for them soon.

All incoming arts-X-pressers will need to have at least one parent or guardian attend a registration meeting to get their paperwork and information  fees and financial aid. Students are encouraged to attend with their parents.  Please attend the meeting that is most convenient for you.  No RSVP is necessary!

Monday, March 28, 7:00-8:30pm
Irvine Unified School District Office, Board Room
5050 Barranca
Irvine, CA 92604

Wednesday, March 30, 7:00-8:30 pm
Aliso Elementary School, Multi-purpose room
22882 Loumont Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630-3935

Thursday, March 31, 7:00-8:30pm
Newport-Mesa Unified School District Office, Board Room
2985 A Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Spanish translator available

Monday, April 4, 7:00-8:30 pm
Garden Grove Unified School District Office, Annex Conference Room
10331 Stanford Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Spanish and Vietnamese translators available

Tuesday, April 5, 7:00-8:30 pm
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Office, Board Room
1301 Orangethorpe Avenue
Placentia, CA 92870

Wednesday, April 13, 7:00-8:30 pm
Santa Ana Unified School District Office, Training Room
1601 E. Chestnut Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Spanish translator available

View AXP orientations in a larger map

Now accepting 2011 Counselor Applications

Do you want to be an arts-X-press counselor?  Will you be between the ages of 16 and 20 as of July 1, 2011?  We are now accepting applications for this summer!  Download an application and recommendation form or e-mail us at arts-x-press@pacificsymphony.org with "Counselor Application Request" in the subject line.  The deadline is April 1st, and applications will only be accepted via e-mail.

Interviews will begin in May.  Each selected counselor will receive 100 hours of community service credit. We hope to hear from you!

Session 1, 2010

Session 2, 2010

Session 3, 2010

Alumni/ parent volunteer opportunities

Want to give back to arts-X-press?  We are in need of some alumni (and their parents) to help us welcome the class of 2011.  We need several volunteers to help us assemble welcome letter packets for a new class of AXPers on March 2, 3-5:30 p.m. @ the Pacific Symphony office.  RSVP here for details.

Thanks for the help!

AXP 2011 Applications due FEBRUARY 14TH

Question of the day: OMG!  Applications are due Monday???!!

Answer: 

If you need to hand deliver your application , our office is located in the Harbor Corporate Park just north of Ikea at 3631 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, 92704.  Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and after-hours drop-off will be available until 6 p.m. (the building's exterior doors are locked at 6 p.m.)   
 
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You can fax your application to (714) 755-5789, or you can e-mail a scanned copy to arts-x-press@pacificsymphony.org.  If you fax or e-mail your application, please help us avoid data entry duplication and DO NOT MAIL THE ORIGINAL.

Admissions decisions will be mailed in early March.

AXP Application Question of the Day

Come back regularly to see the most frequently asked questions about applying to arts-X-press!
  

Today's question: I received a 2-page application from my teacher, but I have a lot of questions about arts-X-press.

Answer: It's likely that your application is missing its first page, which contains all kinds of useful information about tuition, activities, etc.  Download the information page here.

Bonus question: What is the tuition to arts-X-press?
Answer: Full tuition to arts-X-press is $675.  Financial aid (in the form of tuition reductions and payment plans) is negotiated on a case-by-case basis after acceptance to the prgram.  No student will ever be turned away due to their financial situation.

AXP Application Question of the Day

Come back regularly to see the most frequently asked questions about applying to arts-X-press!

Today's question: Can I request a specific art form?

Answer: The goal of arts-X-press is for all students to participate in ALL FIVE art forms during their session.  Trying art forms you've never tried before is part of the fun, which is why we do not accept requests for specific assignments.  However, we do guarantee that you will be assigned to one of the three art forms that you indicate on your application. The five art forms are: theater; visual art; vocal music; instrumental music; and dance. 

AXP Application Question of the Day

Come back regularly to see the most frequently asked questions about applying to arts-X-press!

Today's question: Does arts-X-press offer financial aid?

Answer: YES!  No student will ever be turned away from arts-X-press for financial reasons. Go ahead and fill out your application, return it by the February 14th deadline, and if you are accepted, we will send out financial aid info with the welcome letters at the beginning of March.  We are committed to finding a solution for every financial situation.

Now accepting applications for AXP 2011

We are now accepting student applications for this summer!  Go to www.pacificsymphony.org/arts-x-press to download an application or find out more about the program.  Students must be in 6th or 7th grade currently and residents of Orange County.  Deadline is February 14!

AXP 2011 dates:
July 16-20
July 23-27
July 31-Aug. 3

Counselors, look for your application info in March.

OC Can You Play?

Pianos everywhere, for everyone!  Pacific Symphony announces OC Can You Play?--A public pianos project.  Twenty colorfully painted pianos will be located throughout Orange County including two painted by our very own counselor and staff alum Philip Womack.   

Year 1 counselor and Visual Art instructor Philip Womack

Philip's pianos will take up temporary residence at Main Beach in Laguna and Carousel Court at South Coast Plaza beginning January 16.  When the event ends, they will be put up for auction to benefit the Symphony's education programs, including AXP!  Got an urge to play?  Come to the launch party on Sunday, January 16 at 3 pm in the Jewel Court of South Coast Plaza.  Plus, you can get a head start on our Foursquare piano scavenger hunt.

You can find more info and an interactive map of all 20 pianos at www.pacificsymphony.org/OCCanUPlay. 

More pictures are on the Pacific Symphony Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pacificsymphony

OC Can You Sing?

Okay AXP alumni--here's your chance to sing with the Pacific Symphony!! 

OC Can You Sing is an open amateur singing competition just for Orange County. No prior professional experience is required.  In fact, only amateurs are eligible! 

This is an extraordinary opportunity – a chance to perform with Pacific Symphony, one of the most renowned orchestras, in three of our concerts (March 17-19) featuring American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee!

Application deadline: January 31.  Applicants must be at least 18 and reside in Orange County.

For more information and eligibility details, visit www.pacificsymphony.org/OCCanUSing