CoSA Newsletter
Back to School
October 2026
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HoCo Royalty 2026-2027
This year Homecoming was more than HoCo, it was a HoCoSA Instrumental Music King & Queen!
Congratulations King Reed Karosich & Queen Scout Cross!
👑🥳🎷👑
Photo courtesy of Kel Casey
Photo courtesy of Instrumental Music with Conservatory Director Matt Heinecke
Upcoming CoSA Performances
“You’re the one that I want!” CoSA Musical Theatre & Drama brings the Electrifying Classics of Grease to the Stage This October.
The Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) Musical Theatre and Drama Conservatory is thrilled to announce its fall product. Directed by CoSA legend Barbara Wolf, the timeless hit captures the spirit of teenage life, rock and roll, friendship, and first love at Rydell High. Audiences can expect high-energy dance numbers, dazzling costumes, and unforgettable sing-along anthems like "Summer Nights" and "Greased Lightnin'."
"We are all having a blast working on Grease! Every number is amazing! In particular, the dances are extraordinary. Choreographer Xavier J. Bush has done incredible work with the cast and crew!," said Barbara Wolf. "There’s a lot of excitement and energy surrounding this classic show, and our talented CoSA cast and crew are ready to bring Rydell High to life for the Coronado community. You don’t want to miss it! ." said Coronado School of the Arts Director, Karin Mellina.
One weekend only! The performance opens in the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 650 D Avenue, Coronado, on Thursday October 15th at 7pm, with additional showtimes on Friday October 16th at 7 pm, Saturday October 17th at both 2pm and 7pm with the final performance on Sunday October 18th at 2pm.
Pre-show tickets are available now at https://www.cosafoundation.org/tickets.
GREASE is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
MYTHS AND MAGIC: TALES FROM THE EDGE OF REALITY
Dig Arts HORROR NIGHTS
ANIMATION, FILM and GRAPHIC DESIGN
Coronado School of the Arts Digital Arts department is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated annual Horror Nights production, featuring this year’s theme: "Myths and Magic: Tales from the Edge of Reality." This immersive, mythological horror show will take place over two nights only, on Tuesday, October 27th and Thursday, October 29th, 2026, inside the Black Box Theater at Coronado High School. Doors open each night at 6:00 p.m.
This year, the talented student creators of CoSA DigArts are blurring the lines between ancient folklore and modern nightmares. "Myths and Magic" brings audiences into a realm where the gods of old and the monsters of myth are real, restless, and out to scare.
Horror Nights, now in its 17th year, is a much-loved DigArts tradition. Since horror night occurs in October, students are tasked with beginning their projects as soon as they start school. They begin with sketches and brainstorming, then they storyboard, film, animate, or begin to design in Illustrator or Photoshop in anticipation of their show October 27 and 28.
Film and animation students will screen their original horror shorts and eerie animations. Lining the venue, custom-designed movie posters created by the film and animation students will offer a glimpse into their onscreen terrors. Meanwhile, the graphic design students will display a gallery of horror-themed headshots featuring every student in the conservatory transformed to match the "Myths and Magic" theme, alongside a collection of dark, mythologically-inspired graphic design posters
The event is recommended for middle school aged children or older. Concessions will also be available for sale.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, staff, seniors and military and are on sale now at https://www.cosafoundation.org/tickets or can be purchased prior to each performance.
New and Improved Headshots
High Quality Professional CoSA Headshots
Courtesy of Kel Casey Photography--Capturing Life in Motion https://www.kelcasey.com/f205220130
COSA FAMILY - REDUCED PRICE: $30 Digital Copy
Headshots are a Professional Practice for Creatives.
Acting headshots are a type of portrait photo used by actors and actresses to help them land acting roles. Typically, casting directors use headshots to help them decide whether applicants have the right “look” and charisma for a given role. Artists, Designers and Musicians also represent themselves professionally with headshots in promotional materials, media, websites and portfolios. A standard professional headshot sitting usually averages $250 and Digital Copies of headshots average at least $100.
HOW COSA FAMILIES CAN PURCHASE: $30 Digital Copy https://www.kelcasey.com/f205220130
- To purchase a CoSA headshot, once you find your student’s photo (without name card), double click on it so that it’s larger on your screen. You’ll see a “visit shop” window to your right. This is where you add the to your cart, and check out.
- Once you check out, you’ll be sent an email with the link for downloading the image without the watermark. Once purchased, you have 30 days to download the image to your files.
- The “password” is for CoSA faculty/staff, as they need access for the CoSA yearbook, as well as printing for upcoming performances/shows.
- If parents are purchasing a headshot and would like to request a retake, please contact Kel Casey at kel.casey@icloud.com.
Photos can used for personal use (sharing on social media, printing, using for other art, or theatre/production/shows, etc), but may not be sent to any local media outlets, ie, newspapers, magazines, online news sites, etc.
10% of each Purchased will be Donated back to CoSA Foundation by Photographer, Kel Casey.
Headshots are a wonderful Creative Keepsake for Parents, Grandparents and Extended Family !
Thank you, Kel for providing all CoSA student actors and artists with a complimentary headshot sitting.
November 4th MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Free All CoSA Event!
Congratulations Instrumental Music on your Fall Recital!
Instrumental Music packed the house to kick off the 2026-2027 performance line up! Beautiful ensembles!
CoSA Carnival Highlights!
Thank you to everyone who made the CoSA Carnival memorable this year!
What a blast!
Thank You to our Student Leaders!
CoSA FOUNDATION
Your Investment Makes a Difference!
Calendars
CHS Bell Schedule
CoSA Calendar
Contact Us
Coronado School of the Arts
(619) 522-4050
Principal & Director of CoSA:
Karin Mellina
COSA Support Staff:
COSA Office Administrative Assistant, Deidre Smith
COSA Coordinator, Karrie Jackson
COSA Faculty:
Dance: Caryn Ipapo-Glass
Digital Arts: Animation/Graphic Design, Anna Woerman & Film, Michelle Evenson
Instrumental Music: Matt Heinecke
Musical Theatre & Drama: Barbara Wolf, Kim Strassburger, David McBean
Technical Theatre: Cynthia Bloodgood & Julie Lorenz
Visual Arts: Karrie Jackson
Plus our fabulous Consultants, Guest Artists, Live Models and Volunteers!
COSA Foundation Board of Directors:
President: Arlene Ventimiglia
Vice President: Linda Edison
Secretary: Kristina Quesada
Treasurer: Marnie Herndon
2026-2027 COSA Foundation Board Members:
COSA Director, Advisor to the Board: Karin Mellina
COSA Representative Liaison: Karrie Jackson
Student Representative: CoSA Council Vice President, Wendy Alcaraz
Volunteer Parent Liaison: Rebecca Villanueva
Social Media: Holly Peterson
Dawn Bright
Amber Truax
Reina Valdez
Rebecca Villanueva
Nadia. Mahalingam
Andrea Heinecke
Jennifer Vasquez
Paul Vasquez
Shannon Guths
COSA Foundation Staff:
Director of Development, Jenni Nesbitt
COSA Foundation Administrative Assistant, Erin Everett
COSA Council Student Leadership Team:
President, Emma Olson
Vice President, Wendy Alcaraz
Secretary, Danielle Elizabeth Mensah-Baah
Advisor, Karrie Jackson
Thank you to all our REPs from each of our 6 Conservatories!
Digital Arts Reps: Danielle Elizabeth Mensah-Baah, Carlos Goya Minvielle & & Jose Aguayo
Dance Reps: Norah Hale & George Greeves
Instrumental Music Reps: Mackenzie Fallon, Ella Heinecke & Finely Holzer
MTD Reps: Luca Hansen & Jonah Thygerson
Tech Reps: Rosie Enciso & Donovan Peters
Visual Arts Reps: Scarlett Aispuro, Jackson Carmona & Taja Stanley
And THANK YOU to all our working COSA Student Interns who collaborate on our Productions and Publicity! You are truly PROs!
COSA Graphic Design Interns: Carlos Goya Minvielle & & Jose Aguayo
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