Purpose
The Santa Monica Arts Parents Association (SMAPA) supports cultural arts in elementary, middle and high schools that are part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and located in the city of Santa Monica, by providing funding and assistance for students participating in the band, orchestra, choir, dance, theatre and visual arts programs. Funds donated to a specific program are given solely to that program.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Tax ID #95-2563339
Participating Programs
SMAPA Participating Programs include John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Theatre, Lincoln Middle School (LMS) Music, Santa Monica High School (Samohi) Band, Samohi Orchestras, Samohi Theatre, Samohi Visual Arts, and Samohi Vocal Music. Each Participating Program has the authority to operate independently, including the authority to elect officers, conduct meetings necessary to manage its activities, and raise and disburse funds for its own purposes. Each Participating Program maintains its own books and records, and prepares an annual budget and reports to the SMAPA Board.
SMAPA also assists with fundraising activities for SMMUSD Elementary Music, JAMS Instrumental Music, JAMS Visual Arts, and Lincoln Middle School Music.
Board of Directors
The SMAPA Board of Directors includes one Representative from each of the Participating Programs and two Officers – President and Treasurer – who also serve as Directors. Directors are ratified by a vote of the members present at the annual general membership meeting. Directors serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no compensation for their service to SMAPA. A Director may serve concurrent terms as a Representative and Officer.
Each Director may be designated to serve no more than two consecutive two-year terms.
2024-25 SMAPA Board of Directors:
- SMAPA President – Aimée Koeplin
- SMAPA Treasurer – Diana Wendel Oliver
- John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Theatre Rep. – Amy Beeman-Solano
- Lincoln Middle School (LMS) Music Rep – Kim Vu
- Samohi Bands Rep. – Kim Crawford
- Samohi Orchestras Rep. – Cindy Fitzgerald
- Samohi Theatre Rep. – Erin Neumeyer
- Samohi Visual Arts Rep. – Rachel Witenstein
- Samohi Vocal Music Rep. – Erin Einstein Dale
Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) Program Page
Links to individual VAPA programs and schools within SMMUSD
Prior Boards:
- 2023-24 Aimée Koeplin (Pres), Diana Oliver (Treas), Kim Crawford (JAMS Theatre Treas), Cindy Fitzgerald (Samohi Orchestras Pres), Courtney Spikes (Samohi Theatre Treasurer), Rachel Witenstein (Samohi Visual Arts Rep), Diana Oliver (Samohi Band Treas), Elyse Bennett (Samohi Vocal Music Rep)
- 2022-23: Lydia Muraro (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Kim Crawford (JAMS Theatre Treas), Andrea Kahn (Samohi Orchestras Treas), Courtney Spikes (Samohi Theatre Treasurer), Jeanne Le Blanc (Samohi Visual Arts Rep), Diana Oliver (Samohi Band Treas), Kathleen Rawson (Samohi Vocal Music Rep)
- 2021-22: Lydia Muraro (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Kim Crawford (JAMS Theatre Treas), Joan Krenik (Samohi Theatre Producer), Jeanne LeBlanc (Samohi Visual Arts Rep), Diana Oliver (Samohi Band Treas), Kathleen Rawson (Samohi Vocal Music Rep), Fred Zimmerman (Samohi Orchestras Rep)
- 2010-21: Lydia Muraro (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Gavin DiMundo (Band Pres), Alex Hernandez (Dance Rep), Fred Zimmerman (Orchestra Rep), Ric Levis-Fitzgerald (Theatre Treas), Jeanne LeBlanc (Visual Arts Rep), Erin Inatsugu (Vocal Music Pres)
- 2019-20: Lydia Muraro (Pres), Deborah Nadel (Treas, Orchestra Rep), Melissa Tarsky (Band), Richard Levis-Fitzgerald (Theatre) Sheila Hume (Visual Arts), Erin Inatsugu (Vocal Music)
- 2018-19: Mia von Sadovszky (Pres), Tina Ogata (Treas), Jeff Jarow (Band), Barbara VanArsdell (Orch), Richard Levis-Fitzgerald (Theatre), Sheila Hume (VisArts), Erin Inatsugu (Vocal Music)
- 2017-18: Mia von Sadovszky (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Jeff Jarow (Band), Barbara VanArsdell (Orch), Joan Krenik (Theatre), Charlene Nakamura (VisArts), Erin Inatsugu (Vocal Music)
- 2016-17: Cynthia Pinkos (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Marcy Hardart (Band), Nicole Bethurum (Dance), Dorie Meek (Orch), Charlene Nakamura (Theatre & VisArts), Patti Braun (Vocal Music)
- 2015-16: Cynthia Pinkos (Pres), Alisa Stewart (Treas), Marcy Hardart (Band), Nicole Bethurum (Dance), Dorie Meek (Orch), Charlene Nakamura (Theatre), Patti Braun (Vocal)
- 2014-15: Cynthia Pinkos (President), Alisa Stewart (Treasurer), Nicole Bethurum (Dance Treasurer), Patti Braun (Choir President), Marcy Hardart (Band Rep), Delia Lopez (Orchestra Rep), Charlene Nakamura (Theatre Treasurer)
- 2013-14: Cynthia Pinkos (President), Alisa Stewart (Treasurer), Patti Braun (Choir President), Marcy Hardart (Band Rep), Delia Lopez (Orchestra Rep), Helga Schier (Theatre President)
- 2012-13: Mort Bernstein (President), Jane Bordal (Orchestra Co-President), Patti Braun (Choir President), Cheryl Clark (Choir Treasurer), Nancy Cohen (Orchestra Treasurer), Hermas Lassalle (Theatre Treasurer), Karen Safrit (Orchestra Co-President), Helga Schier (Theatre President), Alisa Stewart (Band President), Mimi Winship (Band Treasurer)
- 2011-12: Elizabeth Stearns (President), Mort Bernstein (Vice-President), Cyndy Turnage (Secretary), Doreen Gelfand (Treasurer), Tracy Hom (Choir Treasurer), Nancy Kane (Band Treasurer), Nancy Mansfield (Orchestra Treasurer), Patricia Payro-Freeman (Theatre Treasurer)
- 2010-11: Patti Braun (President), Nancy Kane (Treasurer), Cyndy Turnage (Secretary), Mort Bernstein, Tracy Hom (Choir Treasurer), Nancy Kane (Band Treasurer), Nancy Mansfield (Orchestra Treasurer), Patricia Payro-Freeman (Theatre Treasurer)
- 2009-10: Patti Braun (Founding President), Cathy Davies (Treasurer), Cyndy Turnage (Secretary)
Bylaws
Click on the link to read or download: Bylaws of Santa Monica Arts Parents Association.
SMAPA 