Student Success

Where Our Students Go

Confidence on stage becomes confidence in life. Watch the films, features, and student voices that show what happens when young people are given a stage, a mentor, and a family that believes in them.

Changing the world one child at a time.

Student Voices

Student Voices

Words from the students who call Ovation a second home.

Ava, age 13

Current student

Starting Ovation has helped me become more confident in my daily life.

Confidence

Isaac, age 10

Current student

The students and the teachers are all so nice. It's a place where you can make friends and learn. It's like my alternative version of school.

BelongingFriendship

Nathaniel, age 10

Current student

When I was 8 I never wanted to sing in front of an audience because I was shy, but when my parents took me to Ovation, it blew my mind. I made so many new friends and it was wonderful. They taught me acting, and singing, and dancing in front of an audience. It's like a big, happy family. And that's how Ovation changed my life.

Overcoming shynessStage skills

Hector, age 13

Current student

I've been at Ovation for going on my fourth year. It's an amazing place. The staff is amazing. The kids and people there are amazing. It's allowed me to come out of my shell. Helping me change into a better person and knowing that everyone else is there, made so many friends and friendships, and I just want to say thank you Ovation for allowing me into the family and letting me be part of the Ovation family. You guys are awesome. Keep up the good work. Thank you for helping me express my emotions through singing, acting, and dancing.

BelongingSelf-expression

Growth

Growing Through Ovation

Students arrive for singing, acting, and dance. They leave with something bigger.

ConfidenceBelongingSelf-expressionTeamworkMentorshipStage skills

One story, seven years

Anastacia

Alumna

At age 16, after moving from Ukraine

Once I came here, I didn't like it at first because I was really shy and it was just hard for me to go up and talk to people, but you really helped me. You're like a best friend to me, and like an older sister and a role model. You've helped me do so much, and you've given me so many opportunities to help me improve and help me express myself and you've even helped me think about my career, and what I'm going to do later on. You've always told me even if it's not performing arts, it's okay that I need to do what I love. This is the one place that I've found that I don't want to leave.

At age 18, after seven years at Ovation

I have been a student at Ovation School for the Performing Arts for around 7 years. Ovation has sort of become a second home to me. It is an amazing environment that has not only helped me develop my singing, acting, and dancing abilities but it has also helped me grow as a person and become the person that I am today. It is a very welcoming and warm place that I'm so lucky to have in my life.

Today: Now 22 and in her last semester at UC Riverside earning degrees in Psychology and English. She plans to become a high school English teacher and currently gives back to Ovation as one of our mentor dance instructors.

MentorshipSecond homeGiving back

Alumni

Where Our Students Go

Ovation alumni go on to universities, creative careers, science, business, and back to Ovation as mentors.

Titus

Alumnus

At age 18

I've been going to Ovation for about 5 or 6 years. Ovation is like a second family. I used to think I was all that before I went to Ovation, but then they taught me how to improve on what I thought was all that which was my singing, my dancing, and my acting, me as a person. They taught me to be confident in myself while being confident in others. They honestly changed my childhood. They really set the bar for me and the rest of my life and I'm honestly grateful for that.

Today: In his final semester at Chapman University as a film student. He recently completed his thesis feature film and has won multiple awards at film festivals for his shorts and other features.

ConfidenceCreative career

Victoria

Alumna

Ovation made me a better person by enabling me to think outside the box, teaching me how to work well with others as a team, and by providing me with the necessary time management skills I needed in order to succeed in college. They also provided me with an amazing family that I will forever have lifelong friendships with.

Today: Graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in Business Marketing and Management. She is currently the Marketing Coordinator for Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

TeamworkCollege readiness

Jenny

Alumna

Hi, my name is Jenny, and I went to Ovation while I was in high school. Ovation has had such a huge impact on my life. In addition to learning from some of the most talented and supportive individuals around, I was given the space and the opportunity to develop self-confidence, as well as learn dance, voice, acting, etc. I am currently a physicist and engineer so while I don't have opportunities very often to use my dance or my voice skills, I use my acting and improv skills all the time. I just went through an interview process in which I was interviewed by over 70 people, so the ability to think quickly on my feet as well as the self-confidence I gained at Ovation have been very beneficial to me thus far. So please support Ovation. They give children and teens the space and the support they need to grow as people as well as grow as performers. Thank you.

Today: Holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and is a Radiation Oncology Physicist at UW Health University Hospital.

Public speakingSTEM career

Alumni

Alumni Achievements

Verified milestones from Ovation graduates.

Samantha Gonzalez

Master of Music (Music Production)

Cal State San Bernardino

Kaitlyn Navarro

Valedictorian Class of 2026, Full Ride Scholarship

Chapman University

Kayne Castillo

Valedictorian Class of 2026

Elijah Justice

Booked a commercial

Jollibee

Victoria Burden

Master of Business Administration (Business Analytics)

California Baptist University

Start Here

Start Here: About Ovation

A short introduction to Ovation, our teaching approach, and the students at the heart of it.

About Ovation

About Ovation

An introduction to who we are, what we teach, and the students at the center of it all.

Podcast

Just Ask Upland

John Lewis joins the Upland Chamber of Commerce podcast to talk about the performing arts in our community.

Podcast

Spotlight on Ovation: John Lewis on Performing Arts Serving the Upland Community

An episode of the Upland Chamber of Commerce podcast Just Ask Upland, featuring Ovation.

Ovation Plus

Sharing the Creative Life

A documentary following Ovation Plus, our inclusive performing arts program for students with special needs.

Documentary

Sharing the Creative Life

A documentary about Ovation Plus, our inclusive performing arts program for students with special needs.

Performances

On Our Stage

Full productions and voice recitals from our most recent seasons.

On Stage

High Hopes: Summer Workshop 2026

A feature from the 2026 Summer Workshop, High Hopes: Generations.

On Stage

Junie B. Jones

Ovation students perform Junie B. Jones.

Recital

Oscar & Grammy Voice Recital 2026

The 2026 Oscar and Grammy voice recital.

Recital

Emmy & Tony Voice Recital 2026

The 2026 Emmy and Tony voice recital.

On Stage

Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr.

Ovation presents Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr.

Watch on Vimeo(opens in a new tab)

Student Voices on Video

In Their Own Words

Students share what Ovation has meant to them, published on our official YouTube channel.

Student Story

Matthew R.

A student testimonial from the Ovation YouTube channel.

Student Story

Reesie M.

A student testimonial from the Ovation YouTube channel.

Student Story

Phoebe T.

A student testimonial from the Ovation YouTube channel.

Our Theme Song

One Child at a Time

Performed by Little Wings. Changing the world one child at a time.

Theme Song

One Child at a Time, performed by Little Wings

The Ovation theme song, performed by Little Wings. Changing the world one child at a time.

The Next Story Could Be Yours

Join a program, or help us keep the stage open for every child who needs it.