January 17, 2027
4:00pm . Founders Hall
John Nettles Broadway Spectacular​​
John Nettles is a versatile San Diego-based conductor, composer, and educator who has shaped the local arts scene for over two decades. As the founding Resident Music Director for City Ballet of San Diego since 2006, he has conducted and composed for numerous world premieres, often integrating orchestral scores with chorus and dance. His leadership extends to serving as Artistic Director of the Pacific Coast Chorale and Assistant Director of Center Chorale, alongside owning A Class Act Productions, which provides technical and artistic services for performing arts organizations and schools nationwide.
With a background spanning musical theater and intensive classical training, John has enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer with the San Diego Opera, Pacific Lyric Association, and Genesis Opera. A dedicated advocate for arts education, he currently serves as the Director of Vocal Music at Vista High School and has been a teaching artist for several premier institutions. His multifaceted expertise as a singer, dancer, and actor informs his work as a clinician and arranger, having been commissioned to create original orchestral works for both City Ballet and the Arkansas Symphony.
Beneficiary: San Diego North Coast Singers
A portion of all ticket sales go to support this 501c3 non-profit organization
The San Diego North Coast Singers (SDNCS) has inspired young voices since 1993 and is a premier non-profit youth chorus program dedicated to artistic excellence and the spirited performance of music from diverse cultures. Founded in 1993 by Sally Husch Dean, the organization has grown into a vibrant community of four ensembles, serving singers from grade two through twelve, as well as a select women’s chamber chorus.
Today, the program is led by Interim Artistic Director Michelle Risling, a former youth singer within the program and longtime Capella director, continuing a legacy of world-class choral education.
Artistic Excellence & Professional Collaborations
SDNCS provides students with unique opportunities to perform major works and collaborate with world-renowned professional musicians. Notable highlights include:
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Major Performances: Collaborations with the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, and the Mainly Mozart Orchestra.
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Masterworks: Performances of Bernstein’s Mass, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Stravinsky’s Persephone.
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Original Commissions: The 2008 premiere of the children’s opera Mice and Beans, based on the book by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
Cultural Exchange & Global Touring
Beyond the local community, SDNCS fosters global citizenship through international tours and festivals. The choirs have represented San Diego on stages across the world, including:
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International Destinations: Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, and a landmark musical tour to Cuba in 2016.
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Domestic Tours: New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, and West Virginia.
Building Harmony Through Community
The organization is a leader in regional collaboration, notably through the Youth Creating Harmony Children’s Choral Festival. This initiative has united intermediate and high school choirs from across Southern California, Los Angeles, and Tijuana, Mexico, featuring workshops with world-renowned conductors to celebrate the unifying power of song.