Celebrating arts-X-press 2024: A Journey of Imagination and Individuality

When Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair envisioned a way to connect with the community of Orange County outside of the concert hall, he saw a place for young people to explore all areas of the arts and express themselves freely. 

In 2001, Carl helped launch arts-X-press, a summer arts immersion camp for middle-school students. Inspired by the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Days in the Arts (DARTS) program, where St.Clair served as Assistant Conductor for several years, he aimed to create a program of lasting impact for young creatives throughout Southern California. 

Since its inception, arts-X-press (AXP) has fostered a unique community of professional artists, arts educators, and community leaders, many of whom have been involved since the beginning. Over 24 magical summers, Pacific Symphony’s Education & Community Engagement department has hosted arts-X-press at UC Irvine, Vanguard University, and now currently at Concordia University Irvine since 2017.

Arts-X-press immerses incoming seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade students in five days of artistic exploration, which includes instrumental music, vocal music, theater, dance, visual arts, creative writing, and the blended intersections of all five. Students stay overnight in dorms, without phones, to maximize face-to-face connections and live in the moment.

Arts-X-press takes campers on a creative journey through arts workshops, creative expression classes, and special live artistic performances, which offer campers opportunities to collaborate and gain insights from professional artists across the region. This year, campers explored instrumental music with a performance by Pacific Symphony, visual arts at the Festival of the Arts’ Pageant of the Masters, traditional Mexican dance with Ballet Folklórico Leyenda, and theater acting with a murder mystery improv show, among many other enriching excursions!

This summer marked the second year of arts-X-pansion, a newly-introduced alum program exploring leadership in the arts. Running concurrently with arts-X-press, it allows recent former campers to reunite and learn how to use their art for positive change in their communities.

Dylin Rodrigo, who attended arts-X-press for the first time in 2022, and has returned to arts-X-pansion for both years since its inception, reflected on the camp’s unique focus. “arts-X-press reminds you that it’s okay not to be great at everything … [AXP] really focuses on your growth as a person—not just the arts. A lot of our curriculum is about how we can improve the world as a whole by being a leader and trusting each other.”

Unlike other arts summer camps that focus solely on artistic learning, arts-X-press offers something unique: the arts-X-press “magic.” Here, no art form is too intimidating to explore. Arts-X-press fosters a non-competitive, safe space where young people can nourish their sense of self, feel empowered to express themselves, and leave with a renewed understanding of the power of friendship and community. The camp encourages positive energy and creative expression over perfection, creating a supportive environment where individuality and imagination flourish.

Arts-X-press strives to unlock “magic moments” for every camper—instances of joy, pride, or self-empowerment. The staff and counselors encourage campers to take creative risks, whether it’s trying a new art form, exploring a new technique, or coming alive in front of an audience.  The program is also defined by full-circle moments, where former campers return as counselors and staff. Many of these individuals credit arts-X-press with shaping their artistic goals and identities, inspiring them to give back to the next generation.

James Suazo, an alum from 2002, returned as a counselor and now serves as one of the program directors. He is also the Executive Director of Long Beach Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to tackling racial and income inequities through community building and leadership opportunities. Kelly Casassa, an AXP Visual Arts instructor and alum from 2002, recently earned her Ph.D. in Education, using arts-X-press as the basis for her doctoral thesis, which focused on how arts-based education impacts middle school students’ socio-cultural and cognitive learning.

Instrumental music instructor Tim Mathiesen and Creative Expression instructor Claudia Feghali, who met as co-counselors at arts-X-press, made history as the first arts-X-press marriage (that we know of!) when they married this year, in 2024.

Sara Beth Arroyo, current Creative Expression instructor, and former counselor and camper alum, shared how impactful arts-X-press was for her. “As a student, arts-X-press was really impactful for me because I had really big emotions that I had no idea what to do with. Creative Expression class taught me how to how to process and channel those emotions through writing and creativity. And my hope is that I can impart that same message to students at camp.”

The magic of arts-X-press not only flows from staff to counselors to students but also spans generations within families. Yolanda Guerra, who currently serves as a Spanish interpreter for arts-X-press families, attended the inaugural year as a camper in 2002. This summer, 22 years later, she watched her daughter begin her own arts-X-press journey.

Many camper alums eagerly anticipate the day they can return to the program as counselors. Ryan Mehrali, an alum of arts-X-press 2020 and a first-time counselor this summer in 2024, was so enthusiastic about qualifying that he set a calendar reminder on his 16th birthday—four years in advance—to ensure he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to apply.

Lead counselor Isabella Avina, a camper alum in 2018, spoke on why she wanted to return as a counselor: “There’s such a beauty in having a community that’s based around the arts … it’s a tradition that I wanted to make sure I did my part in keeping alive so generations down the line can enjoy that same kind of community and power that exists in music and the arts.”

Each summer, Carl St.Clair takes time to visit arts-X-press to share the origins and mission of the program with students. Candid and open with his words, St.Clair shared his experiences as a young artist struggling to find his voice. He emphasized the importance of embracing mindfulness and surrounding oneself with supportive friends and family during times of hardship.

During his talk, a camper raised a heartfelt question about Carl’s words. She asked what to do when one might feel unsupported by friends or family. Carl, recognizing the bravery it took to voice such a concern, applauded her courage. He then turned to the group and said, “Look around you,” as his voice quivered with emotion. Gesturing to everyone gathered, he pointed out that in that very moment, she was surrounded by friends and family—highlighting the strong, uplifting community they had all helped to build in just a few days. 

Drawing from his own life, Carl shared how he overcame childhood struggles through the arts, which ultimately led him to find his identity and confidence. His words resonated deeply, moving many students, counselors, and staff to tears. It was a powerful moment that underscored the deep and lasting impact of arts-X-press. This exchange captured the essence of arts-X-press—a place where creativity, support, and an emphasis on personal growth create a transformative experience for everyone involved.

As the air filled with emotion, it showcased how arts-X-press is more than just a camp; it’s a family. It’s a place where young people can find their voice, embrace their individuality, and feel truly seen and supported. The magic of arts-X-press lies in these connections, and the memories created here will be cherished for lifetimes.

Pacific Symphony holds arts-X-press annually for two 5-day sessions in July. Alumni are encouraged to return as arts-X-pansion students and can apply to become counselors at 16. To learn more, visit pacificsymphony.org/artsxpress, where you can apply at the start of the new year, view videos about the program, and find answers to frequently asked questions. Follow arts-X-press on Instagram @artsxpress for the latest news and updates about the program!