James Caestecker
Director, Instrumental Music
Teaches: Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Advanced Orchestra, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Marching Band, Drum Line, Color Guard, Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra
jjcaestecker@capousd.org
James Caestecker is the Director of Instrumental Music in Dana Hills High School SOCSA. Mr. Caestecker earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from San Diego State University in 2017. Studying with Dr. Eric Starr at SDSU, Mr. Caestecker earned his degree with an emphasis in Trombone. While at San Diego State, Mr. Caestecker conducted the SDSU Varsity Band, an NCAA Music Ensemble performing at Women’s Basketball Games, and also and was the Student Assistant for the SDSU Music Education Fellowship Program. A native of San Clemente, CA and a graduate of San Clemente High School, he earned his Teaching Credential in 2018 and is thrilled to be teaching in Capistrano Unified and contributing to the musical community that he participated in during his schooling. Outside of school, Mr. Caestecker teaches lessons to Drum Majors in Military Baton and Mace as well as conducting. An avid train enthusiast, Mr. Caestecker is a Locomotive Engineer at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, CA, where he enjoys volunteering and preserving railroad history.
Natalie Hribar-Kelly
Visual Arts Instructor
Teaches: Digital Photography, AP Studio Art:3D
ndhribar@capousd.org
Natalie Hribar-Kelly earned her Master in Fine Arts degree from CSULB, Master in Education from UCSB and received her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. She began teaching at Dana Hills, which also happens to be her alma mater, in 2004. Hribar-Kelly has participated in numerous group shows, solo art exhibits and juried exhibitions. Dana Hill’s Digital Photography (CTE) classes, and AP Studio Art: 3D course are taught by Hribar-Kelly. She prides herself in making opportunities for students to show their artwork both at the school site and in the community. Most recently she led a large scale mural project at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point with fellow educator Mrs. Rodriguez. This project was sponsored by OC Parks. Hribar-Kelly also enjoys taking her students on various field studies to museums, colleges, and on location photography shoots. Currently, Hribar-Kelly is the Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair. She lives in San Juan Capistrano with her husband and three young daughters. On her free time she enjoys being with her family, gardening, camping and creating art.
Lindsey Lee
Dance Instructor
Teaches: Dance Ensemble, Dance Production
lalee@capousd.org
Lindsey Lee is in her tenth year of teaching dance at Dana Hills High School. Mrs. Lee attended UCLA, where she studied, trained and performed with a diverse and accomplished faculty. Mrs. Lee danced professionally in Los Angeles as a member of the UCLA Dance Team. Since college she has coached, choreographed and taught master classes throughout the Southern California area. She has produced countless dance shows at Dana Hills High School and enjoyed helping to build the SOCSA dance program into what it is today.
Nathan Longdon
Director: Theater Arts
Teaches: Adv. Drama, Actor’s Repertory, Stagecraft, Theatrical Production, Commercial Music
njlongdon@capousd.org
A proud Dana Hills High School, and SOCSA Alumni(04'), Nathan Longdon could not be more excited to be taking on the role of Director of Theater Arts . Nathan received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of California Los Angeles( UCLA 08'), and is a proud faculty member of College Career Advantage. For the past twelve years in addition to teaching the Commercial Music course at DHHS, Nathan has worked as a walk-on coach for SOCSA assisting with Musical Theater, Actor's Repertory, Beginning Guitar, and Vocal Music. Nathan truly is blue through and through, and couldn't be more proud to be a part of such an amazing group of coworkers, students, and families.
Ray Medina
Director, Vocal Arts
Teaches: AP Music Theory, Golden Lantern Show Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Blue Lantern Jazz Ensemble, SOCSA Musical/Comedy PE
949-496-6666 ext. 11100
Ray Medina is in his tenth year teaching vocal music at the high school level. His choirs have consistently earned unanimous superior ratings at festivals and have won several competitions throughout the western states. He has had the privilege of conducting choirs in Carnegie Hall and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, and has performed on stage at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and La Madeleine in Paris, France. His choirs tour annually around the country, most recently traveling to Nashville, Seattle, San Francisco, and New York City. Mr. Medina earned his B.M. in Choral Conducting and Music Education from Chapman University, where he studied under the direction of Dr. William Hall and was awarded the Choral Conducting and Music Education Awards. Mr. Medina also attended California State University at Fullerton and completed coursework toward his M.M. in Choral Conducting, studying under the direction of Dr. Robert Istad and serving as the graduate conductor of the University Singers. Recently, Mr. Medina was the guest conductor for the Capistrano Unified School District Honor Choir held in Segerstrom Concert Hall. He has also served on staff at Wildwood Music Camp in Big Bear, CA. Mr. Medina currently lives in Mission Viejo with his two boys, Isaiah and Caleb.
Chau Tran
Visual Arts Instructor
Teaches: Drawing & Painting, Advanced Drawing & Painting
cktran@capousd.org
Mr. Tran attended California State University, Long Beach earning his BFA in drawing and painting. He also attained a Master’s of Science in Athletics and Coaching Administration from Concordia University.
He currently teaches SOCSA Drawing and Painting and SOCSA Advance Drawing and Painting. His advanced courses specialize in large canvas format paintings. All painting students leave his course knowing how to build stretcher bars and stretch their own canvas from scratch. His students also have various opportunities to exhibit work, experience high level instruction, and create college level artworks.
Mr. Tran prides himself on encouraging his student’s creativity and helping them find their hidden talents. He believes that everyone has the ability to enjoy and create art. Creating Art is what makes humans unique, no other species does this. Art is a visual language that transcends all verbal languages in which we all can understand.
Mr. Tran is an avid mountain biker and always challenges himself as well as his students.
John Ginnaty
Visual Arts Instructor
Teaches: Ceramics (Introduction, Advanced)
Mr. Ginnaty has 16 years of high school and college/university level teaching experience. Mr. Ginnaty earned his BFA in ceramics from California State University, Fullerton and and MFA in ceramics from Bowling Green State University, Ohio.
Jeannette Boyle Culinary Arts James Caestecker Instrumental music
Natalie Hribar-Kelly Photography, Multimedia Design
John Ginnaty Ceramics
Lindsey Lee Dance
Ray Medina Vocal Music
Nathan Longdon Theater Arts
Chau Tran Drawing and Painting
Edward Tyson Photography