The Angels for the Arts at Saddleback College is pleased to announce five new Board of Directors appointments as follows:
Bill Brechtel retired from UCI Extension as an English as a Second Language (ESL) and Business English Instructor a few years ago and started taking music classes at Saddleback College. He was new to playing music, but as he took more classes from different instructors, he came to realize what an exceptional music program Saddleback offered. At some point, he learned about the Angels for the Arts and became a regular member and now a Board member. He is most interested in helping the music department, especially the jazz program. He has taken most of the classwork towards an AA degree in Music, so he knows the curriculum and instructors well. He is currently trying to arrange for scholarships to two different out-of-the-area summer camps, one for jazz and the other for bass. Opportunities like these will help broaden the horizons of Saddleback’s music students. He lives in Laguna Woods Village and hopes to promote attendance at Saddleback’s theater and music performances. He is a native Californian and holds degrees from UC Berkeley, UCLA and Cal State University San Francisco so he truly appreciates California’s system for higher education, including Saddleback College.
Dante Johnson is the new student representative on the Angels for the Arts Board of Directors. He lives in Elsinore, and this will be his third year at Saddleback College studying Communication. He has competed for the Forensics Speech and Debate Team here at Saddleback, where he has won multiple national titles. He is currently a full-time employee for Quest Diagnostics Nicholas Institute. His interaction with the Angels for the Arts first began in February, 2016 when he was asked to perform a Martin Luther King speech for the Black History Month sponsored by the Angels called A Night in Historic Motown. His passions in the arts are in speech and music. He is excited to be a part of the Angels board for the 16-17 school year, and he looks forward to accomplishing and creating great opportunities for students and the community.
Atefeh Madi is on the Angels for the Arts board because, to her, art is the universal gateway to self-discovery, and those who are self-aware know that at the core, they are one. She was born in Tehran and now lives in Aliso Viejo. After earning a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and attending law school, she is now pursuing acting and singing at Saddleback College. She thought she could pursue her passion in helping people in a courthouse but found a much more effective means on the theatrical stage. She appeared in Saddleback’s Theatre Arts productions of Talking With… and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She was also a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival nominee for her role in Talking With…, and she spearheaded the fundraising efforts towards the Hawaii festival this year. Atefeh also earned an Angels for the Arts scholarship and performed a scene from The Odd Couple at this year’s Student Success Showcase.
Robert L. Manniello, M.D., AKA “Dr. Bob” and his family have been long time residents in San Juan Capistrano. Formerly, he served as the Medical Director of CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, physician surveyor for hospital accreditation for The Joint Commission, Chicago, Illinois, and the Institute for Medical Quality in San Francisco. He serves as a docent at Mission San Juan Capistrano (SJC), Board member appointment for the Mission SJC Docent Society, editor of its Newsletter (CAPsule), and he volunteers with his spouse at the Mission’s Music Under The Stars Summer Concerts. In the past, he has been active with the Friends of the Library Board. Creatively, Dr. Bob is an avid oldies (50s – 60s) music fan, enjoys singing, theater, and freelance writing (Capistrano Valley News) and is completing his first novel. Involvement as an Angels for the Arts Board member at Saddleback College is a welcomed opportunity to act as a catalyst with other board members to secure educational funding for deserving students of the arts. He looks forward to participating in creating efficient processes to meet the Board’s fiscal and educational challenges.
Lacey Yell earned her MPA in Public Administration from Norwich University, Vermont, and her BA in Dance from San Francisco State University. She also holds Pilates certifications from Long Beach Dance Conditioning and Orange Coast College. She was an award winning competition team coach during her decade at Capistrano Academy of Dance. In 2013, Lacey won the Top Choreography award from “The Leap” Competition located in San Diego. Lacey has completed several Pilates conferences and teaches Pilates throughout Orange County. She has been instructing Pilates for private clients for the past four years. She specializes in rehabilitation and conditioning for athletes. She has been a guest artist for San Juan Hills High School Choreographers Ball since 2013. She has been a choreographer for the Angels for the Arts “Big Band Swing Thing” and also was a guest choreographer for the Saddleback Foundation Gala in 2014. Lacey was a performer with Rhapsody in Taps directed by Linda Sohl-Ellison and just finished two seasons as a performer and choreographer with Elle Vie Dance Company, directed by Leah Vincent. Currently, Lacey is an Associate Professor for Saddleback’s Dance Department where she teaches Tap and Pilates.
The Angels for the Arts is a fundraising and support organization for the Performing and Visual Arts at Saddleback College. Angel members donate their time and talent to raise funds and assist with a variety of arts events on the campus. The group is led by a volunteer advisory board of directors. Angel members believe in the importance of offering a full spectrum of arts to the community, with the college as the focal point. These events bring together Orange County residents from all walks of life, for the purpose of enlightenment, entertainment, and inspiration. The Angels also provide support for scholarships for students in Visual & Performing Arts, MainStage Kids Productions, master classes with professional artists, and enhancements for arts patrons, such as the tram, and annual fundraisers.
Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.
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Nina Welch
Fine Arts Public Information Officer
Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
