Music Department - ��ֱ��

Dillon Shidemantle

Keely Mikkelsen — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:43:10 +0000

Dillon Shidemantle’s musical journey began in the small town of Conneautville, Pennsylvania, where he made his first public appearance at just three years old—singing for a lively crowd at his grandfather’s livestock auction barn. That early experience sparked a lifelong love not just for music, but for sharing it with others.

His passion for jazz took shape in school through jazz band and musical theater, where he discovered both the discipline and joy of collaborative music-making. Dillon went on to earn his Bachelor of Music from Mercyhurst University, where he continued to grow as both a performer and musician. In college, Dillon co-founded a jazz combo, The Monk’s Brew, performing in local coffee shops and community spaces, along with weddings and private events. While those early audiences were intimate, the impact was meaningful—playing over 100 shows, bringing people together through music and creating a sense of connection that continues to define his work today.

Dillon furthered his studies by earning a Master of Music from the University of Akron, deepening his understanding of jazz as both an art form and a shared experience. During this time, he expanded into festival and club performances, opportunities that helped shape his belief that music is most powerful when it fosters communication, creativity, and community.

Now based in Goodyear, Arizona, Dillon recorded his debut album, 1960, as a tribute to his roots and a dedication to his mother. The project reflects his commitment to storytelling through music and his appreciation for the rich legacy of Black American Music.

Today, Dillon brings that same spirit into his teaching. As a vocal jazz educator, he is passionate about helping students develop their voices, build confidence, and explore their own artistic identities. His approach emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and a deep respect for the history of jazz, while creating an inclusive and encouraging environment for young artists to grow.

For Dillon, music is more than performance—it’s a way to connect, to communicate, and to inspire.

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Shana Halligan

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:08:36 +0000

First stepping into the spotlight as vocalist for the LA band Bitter:Sweet, Shana Halligan became known for her Bond-Girl-flavored vocals, helping shape the trip-hop sound. She’s sold over 500,000 records, earned Grammy consideration, and her music has been featured in numerous films and TV shows. On stage, she captivates with a mix of vulnerability and bombastic energy, delivering unforgettable performances.
Halligan has toured globally, gracing venues like Royal Albert Hall and Hollywood Bowl, and collaborated with artists such as Alicia Keys and Serj Tankian. With shout-outs from Billie Eilish and recent work with Thievery Corporation, her latest release showcases her evolved style, pushing boundaries and diving into new musical realms, reflecting raw emotion and musical exploration.

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�Ѿ��ٲ��ܰ��Ѵǰ��첹�ɲ�

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 23:50:53 +0000

Pianist �Ѿ��ٲ��ܰ��Ѵǰ��첹�ɲ� is a distinguished soloist, coach, accompanist, and chamber musician, performing across the United States and Asia. Known for her versatility, she has collaborated with renowned artists such as Julia Migenes, Rodney Gilfry, and Kristinn Sigmundsson in instrumental music, opera, musical theater, and choral ensembles. She has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall and has held positions at institutions including Occidental College, Santa Monica College, and the Oberlin College Conservatory. Currently, she serves at California State University Los Angeles, Colburn School, UCLA, and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. Her extensive education includes degrees from the Toho School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from USC, studying under esteemed mentors such as Alan Smith, Norman Krieger, and Sergei Babayan. Beyond performance and teaching, she has recorded for New World Records and been featured on KUSC, WCLV, and NHK-FM, continuing to inspire students and audiences with her artistry.

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Joo Lee (Music ’01)

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:31:03 +0000

Joo Lee is an LA-based cellist who loves to balance music and life. She performs with many ensembles in Los Angeles such as Delirium Musicum, and in various orchestras including the San Bernardino Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and LA Opera. Joo has been involved in recordings for TV shows and movies including Family Guy, American Dad, the Star Trek series, Onward, and The Call of the Wild.

Teaching has been her passion for over 25 years, and she has been invited to give masterclasses and cello coaching, as well as to judge for numerous competitions in Southern California. In her free time, Joo enjoys visiting national parks, hiking, and running. She received honors at Juilliard School Prep., a BM from the New England Conservatory, and an MM from the University of Southern California. A proud alumna of both the ��ֱ�� Program and the Academy at ��ֱ��, Joo values the foundation it gave her as a young artist. Joo currently lives in South Pasadena with her family.

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Nic Brannen

Keely Mikkelsen — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:36:28 +0000

Nic’s work reflects the social potential of pleasurable creation and creative compassion. Zir art practice has entwined its way through various disciplines: dance, poetry, photography, sculpture, film, and music. Mirroring the three ecologies (mind, social, and environmental), Nic’s sonic works have a background in piano performance, trans-voice, and experimental jazz. Ze is currently a producer, composer, and member of the experimental jazz collective “God’s Favorite.” Nic has extensive work as a piano accompanist with world class Los Angeles vocalists, from Broadway, Opera, Jazz, RnB, Pop, and everything in between. Nic’s intra-genre work spreads into zir compositional style, as showcased in compositions like “The Kitchen Table,” a 22 hour opera based on the Major Arcana tarot card. Nic has an MFA in Experimental Sound Practices & Composition from California Institute of the Arts and zir BFA in Jazz Piano Performance from Cornish College of the Arts.

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Tricia Pilkington

Keely Mikkelsen — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 21:01:37 +0000

Tricia Pilkington has lived as a mountain local in Idyllwild since 1995 and been involved with ��ֱ�� ever since. She has raised two children who have attended the Academy while maintaining her varied professional careers as a Sound Medicine Musician, Bioenergetic Therapist, Session Vocalist, Singer-Songwriter (6 bands and 13 Albums worth), Expression Coach, Talent Manager, Production Artist, and Jeweler. She has worked with the IAA Children’s ��ֱ�� program to bring Music Therapy and inspiration to the young artists and joyfully joins the faculty at IAA in the Visual Arts Department as a Jeweler. Her life’s mission can be summarized as a desire to inspire people to develop and use their unique voice to express their authentic identity to positively impact the culture with bioenergetic Integrity and Compassion.

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Kurt Snyder

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 19:11:20 +0000

Kurt is a horn player on over five hundred movie scores, as well as television and jingles. Performance credits include the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and many others. Kurt has also served as principal horn with a wide range of artists from The Three Tenors and Luciano Pavoratti to Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, among others. Teaching experience: former faculty member of California Institute of the Arts and the University of Nevada. Kurt has taught at ��ֱ�� since 1986. His students have gone on to prestigious music schools including Juilliard, Eastman, Curtis, Manhattan, Oberlin and many others. Those students have gone on to win top orchestral positions in Europe, Asia and the United States.

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Chris Wabich

Keely Mikkelsen — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:38:24 +0000

Grammy nominee Chris Wabich is a highly regarded and original voice on the drumset, steel drum, and percussion in Los Angeles. His versatility as both a musician and producer is evident in the diverse range of artists he collaborates with. Chris has been heard performing with Ludacris, Sting, Leonard Cohen, Stanley Jordan, Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Sheila E., Mark Murphy, “Joe’s Garage” produced by Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family, Steve Tyrell, Billy Vera, John Oats (Hall and Oates), Turkish superstar Omar Faruk, Trinidad superstar Boogsie Sharpe, Prog Rock legends Kevin Ayers (Soft Machine), and Richard Sinclair (Caravan). His contributions also extend to soundtracks, including “Malcolm in the Middle,” “American Idol,” “Better Homes and Gardens,” “Wild California” IMAX, and Lalo Shifrin’s “After The Sunset.”

Notably, Chris Wabich recently received the COLA master solo artist grant, marking him as the first percussionist to ever perform a solo show at the LA Grand Performances series (scheduled for June 2024). Over the years, he has been a featured artist at 29 Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion conventions and is proudly sponsored by INNOVATIVE PERCUSSION sticks, TYCOON percussion, ROLAND electronics, TURKISH cymbals, CADESON drums, and REMO drumheads.

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Hallie Ballou (Music ’10)

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 01:15:33 +0000

An alumna of the ��ֱ�� Music Department, Hallie wrote and recorded her debut album during her time as a student – an experience that shaped both her creative voice and her belief in the transformative power of an artistic community. Growing up at the end of the road in Alaska, Hallie began writing songs at age ten under the mentorship of Atz Kiltcher (father of recording artist Jewel), who instilled in her the importance of storytelling through song. Now an established recording artist, performer, and songwriter, Hallie has collaborated with leading writers in the folk and Americana communities and has recorded extensively in Los Angeles and Nashville. Her music reflects a deep connection to nature, storytelling, and emotional authenticity – values she now brings into the classroom as Director of Songwriting.

As an educator, Hallie is passionate about helping young artists discover their creative voice, build confidence in their performance, and understand the balance between emotional truth and technical craft. She believes songwriting is both a deeply personal and profoundly communal act – one that connects people across backgrounds, cultures, and generations. Returning to ��ֱ�� more than a decade after graduating, Hallie now leads the Songwriting Program with the same sense of wonder and gratitude she once felt as a student – committed to ensuring that today’s young songwriters experience the same magic of belonging, discovery, and creative freedom that once changed her life.

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Helene Quintana, DMA

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 18:07:20 +0000

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Jason Hallowbard

bjones@idyllwildarts.org — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 19:54:36 +0000

Jason’s experience as a leader in arts education makes him the ideal person to lead IAA. In his previous position of Vice Provost for Academic and Artistic Education at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Jason restructured all student academic support including academic and college counseling, created the student advisory program, and led an academic and artistic program review. He also formed a school counseling program and redesigned community gatherings to address SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) needs and emerging COVID effects on student mental health. Prior to joining Interlochen Center for the Arts, he served in various roles at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, LA, including Associate Head of School, Arts Director, and Arts Department Chair/Director of Choral Activities. Jason holds a Graduate Certificate in School Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Oklahoma, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Pittsburg State University.

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Aki Nikigushi

wpdev — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 19:54:35 +0000

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Music Department - ����ֱ��