Our Team

Debbie Wastling, MA, BA Theatre, ALAM (Acting), LLAM (teaching)

As Executive Director of Kings and Clowns 501(c)3 for 22 years, Debbie believes every school age student should have access to quality music and arts training.

She has taught and directed at Junior College level, High School (Head of Music, Drama and Dance) and K-8 in several schools. However, she started her music career in touring Rock Bands in England. She plays piano, saxophone and drums.

Grounded in the classics, she holds qualifications with LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) together with a BA and MA in Theatre and Musical Theatre. Once transplanted to California she directed over 60 productions many popular musicals and produced many variety shows for choral groups.

Debbie has experience in volunteering on grant committees both for Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Long Beach Arts Council and consults with beginning non profits to help them navigate non-profit status and grant writing. She is a long-term member of the Society of Speech and Drama (UK) and holds a Red Carpet Award from Women in Theatre(LA) -2006.

Patrick Rosal is a graduate from Cal State Long Beach with a B.M. in Music Education – Choral/Vocal studies. He began to sing and become immersed in music when he was about five years old and started playing the guitar at the age of twelve. He was self-taught with music until he decided to pursue being a Music Educator in 2013.

He started the Applied Music Program at LBCC in 2013 and studied classical voice with Dr. Kevin St. Clair and sang with the Viking Chamber Singers for over 3 years under the direction of Skye Angulo. In Fall 2017 he began studying for his music education degree at BCCM-CSULB. His voice instructor was Marian Bodnar and studied with her for two and a half years. He sang with BCCM-CSULB’s choir groups such as the University Choir and Chamber Choir, led by Dr. Joshua Palkki and Dr. Jonathan Talberg.

Patrick is currently a private music instructor at Jammin’ Music in Bixby Knolls. He has over 20 students in his studio that are learning a variety of music and instruments. Patrick teaches guitar, voice, piano, bass guitar and beginner ukulele. Some of his favorite moments while teaching are when his students get excited about performing at their “First Friday Recitals”.

Kenneth Mahone is a seasoned keyboardist and producer and has been working with children since 2009. His music education started in Washington, where he was born, and he came to LA to attend the Musician’s Institute where he took many classes in songwriting and music production.

Ken has taught piano, choir, and musical theatre during his career, and his mission is to help students reach their full potential and reach their goals.

The son of a songwriter,  Ronnie Cohen has been playing music since he was a child. Ronnie plays drums, sings, composes and can find his way around a variety of instruments including harmonica, recorder, piano, and guitar.

Ronnie holds a 4-year diploma in Professional Music from The Berklee College of Music. He has performed on drums for many years–in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City. Ronnie has taught in Middle School for over twenty years.

With 30 years of experience teaching and training inspiring dancers in jazz, lyrical, hip hop contemporary and liturgical praise dance techniques. Felicia Vann has an extensive dance career working with professional choreographers in the industry, coaching and choreographing for numerous dance and cheer teams, teaching master classes for performing arts programs and schools.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Dance and Psychology from Loyola Marymount University; she works regularly as a dance competition adjudicator for organizations such as Miss Dance Drill Team USA, L.A.’s Best and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Felicia is currently the Spirit Coordinator and Head Coach for the Bishop Montgomery High School Song Team and the Executive Director  for the Precision Dance Company in Lomita, CA.

Angel Johnson is a choreographer, dancer, and Behavioral Therapist. She holds three degrees, including a B.A. in Performing Arts, a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.A. in Social Work. While earning her degrees, Angel worked at an after- school program teaching dance to students in grades K-5.

 Angel is passionate about passing her love of dance to students and hopes to bridge the gap between dance and mental well-being.

Angel aspires to a career in the dance industry, already appearing in numerous television, music, video, and theater productions. Angel’s mission as an artist is to empower students through dance and provide them with a space to express themselves without apology!

Ori Huberman grew up in Israel and after completing his service, he pursued his passion for music and music education and trained in Guitar at the Musician Institute, Hollywood, attaining student of the year when graduating.  After completing his degree in music education in Israel, Ori began teaching rock and jazz guitar.  He has been with Arts Alive since 2011. Ori divides his time between teaching and performing professionally in guitar, bass, drums and keyboards in several musical settings.

 Ori performs with “The Fabulous Esquires Big Band”, a classic swing era big band plus several tribute and cover bands including “Tapestry” a Carole King  tribute, “Imagine the Beatles”, “Four Way Street” as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, & Young, “Heart Bridgade” ” as well as “Woodstock Tribute Band” known all over Southern California. 

Britt Carson studied Classical Piano Performance at Greenville University and has been teaching piano lessons for several years since graduating. She is also the Worship Minister at Christ Pacific Church in Huntington Beach. In her free time she enjoys taking hikes with her husband and two dogs!

Hope Easton has been teaching the cello for a few decades. She plays the guitar, ukulele, piano, and violin
as well as writes and sings her own music. She has a private studio but has also taught in various schools in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. She graduated from New England Conservatory and received a
Fulbright Scholarship to the United Kingdom.

Juhee Jeon teaches at our St. Catherine School and Nativity Torrance studied violin and piano in Korea since the age 4, and later graduated with a Bachelor’s in Performance major. She then studied to California State University, Northridge and has conducted for youth orchestras that performed at Oriental Mission Church and LA Korean Methodist Church. She has been teaching for over 20 years, primarily with younger children and specializes in directing music performances.