New Director of Orchestras!

 We are thrilled to announce the addition of Mr. Jacob Lapré to the El Toro High School Instrumental Music Program, as the new Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands.  Mr. Lapré is also entering his 9th year as a woodwind instructor in Saddleback Valley Unified School District. 

 Mr. Lapré has directed chamber orchestras at both Poway and Mission Viejo High Schools and Symphony Orchestra at Mesa Verde Middle School.  He has also taught at many Southern California high schools including Diamond Bar, Westview, Vista, Nogales, Murrieta Valley, and Mt. Carmel.  He has also taught at South Pointe Middle School.

 EMAIL: orchestradirector@ethsband.org                                  PHONE: (949) 586 – 6333 x 6623

Christy Alesi has been a music educator and performer in southern California for more than 30 years.  She has a degree in Music Education from San Diego State University, and did post-graduate work at the University of California, Irvine as a student of Robert Becker.  For the past 19 years she has been the Assistant Music Director at La Paz Intermediate School in Mission Viejo and was Director of Orchestras at El Toro High School in Lake Forest for the past 6 years.  For many years she was Principal Violist in the South Coast Symphony and is currently a member of the Orange County Symphony.  She maintains a private studio of 20 students, and spends as much of her free time as possible with her 2 year old grandaughter, who she hopes will become a violist!

 Daniel Blank started playing the violin at age 9. Initially playing classical music, his musical interests now cover a wide range. After many years of playing in the Northwest, he moved to Nashville, where he spent 10 years touring around the country with such artists as Tanya Tucker, Johnny Paycheck and Trick Pony. He then moved back home to Southern California, where he teaches extensively at local schools and privately. He also performs regularly around the Southland and you can find him playing anything from jazz to country, square dances to string quartets for weddings.

Chris Hornung received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University and his Master of Music degree from Michigan State University.  While in Michigan, Chris was a member of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and West Shore Symphony, and regularly performed with the Kalamazoo, Jackson, Battle Creek, and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestras.   Chris is principal double bass of the Orange County Symphony, and has recently performed with the Montage Civic Orchestra, La Mirada Symphony and California Chamber Orchestra.  An active soloist, his recent appearances include recitals in Orange County, San Diego, Michigan, and Taiwan.  Also active as a teacher, Chris is a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, where he teaches double bass and music history.  He teaches double bass sectionals at several local high schools, and private students of all ages.  He currently lives in Aliso Viejo.