About Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D.

Career

Ralph S. Opacic founded the award-winning Orange County School of the Arts in 1987 and served as executive director and president until 2021, building it into one of the top-ranked arts high schools in the country. He is credited for assembling the finest artist-teachers and academic instructors in Southern California and creating opportunities for young performing and visual artists to develop their talents to their greatest potential. Following his tenure at OCSA, he spent several years consulting with arts schools and institutions across California and the country. In October 2025, he became President & CEO of Orange County Music & Dance, where he is leading a major expansion that includes acquiring a second campus and implementing a "womb to tomb" approach to arts education, offering programs from early childhood through adult classes.

Experience

• Consultant, Various arts schools and institutions

  2021 — 2025 · California and nationwide

• President & Executive Director/Founder, Orange County School of the Arts

  1987 — 2021 · Santa Ana, California

• President & Executive Director, Orange County School of the Arts Foundation

  1988 · Santa Ana, California

• Consultant, DeVos Institute of Arts Management, Kennedy Center

  2011 · Washington, DC

• President/Founder, Pacific Coast Dance Fest

  1998 — 2003 · Long Beach, California

• President/Founder, West Coast School of the Arts

  1995 — 2003 · Cypress, California

• President/Founder, West Coast Musical Theatre Company

  1982 — 1995 · Los Alamitos, California

• Choral/Vocal Music Teacher, Los Alamitos High School

  1983 — 1989 · Los Alamitos, California

Education

• University of Southern California

  Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.), Educational Leadership & School Finance · 1993 — 1994

• National University

  Master of Science, Educational Administration · 1990

• California State University, Long Beach

  Bachelor of Arts, Music (Choral/Vocal), Minor in Piano · 1981

Awards

• Jeffrey Lawrence Award (Arts Schools Network), 2012
• One of top three executives in Orange County (Orange County Register), 2011
• Outstanding Founder (National Philanthropy Day Orange County), 2009
• Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award (Orange County Business Journal), 2007
• Artistic Visionary: Cultural Legacy Award (Arts Orange County), 2007
• Outstanding Contribution to Education Award (Orange County Department of Education), 2006
• Arts Administrator of the Year (Arts Orange County/OC Department of Education), 2001
• One of Orange County's Hot 25 Leaders (OC Metro Magazine), 2000

Boards

• Arts Schools Network (Past President)
• West Coast School of the Arts (Past President)
• Pacific Coast Dance Fest (Past President)
• University of Southern California's Society of Delta Epsilon (Past President)
• Los Alamitos Television Corporation
• Los Alamitos Youth Center
• Pathways to Independence (Vice President/Development, 1995-1999)
• Rotary Club of Los Alamitos
• Orange County Music & Dance (board member for 10 years prior to becoming CEO)

Memberships

• Arts Schools Network
• Delta Epsilon, University of Southern California