The Arts will be a prominent component at TEDxNapaValley 2015

This year, at the TEDxNapaValley live event on April 12, they will be featuring printmaker Stephen Thomas, who founded the School of Printmaking at The Oxbow School after teaching in and administrating urban art programs. Dan O’Connor brings a long, successful acting and improv career to his work in creating whole new approaches to narrative, improv and animation for DreamWorks and Disney Animation. And songwriter and acclaimed musician Dave Madden is breaking new ground in on-stage music directing and arranging for national youth performances. From television and film comes producer Katherine Haber, who has leveraged her career into community service by bringing filmmakers into the inner city and establishing Los Angeles’ now-thriving cricket community.

Check out their bios below, then discover the rest of the exciting speaker lineup for TEDxNapaValley 2015. The event takes place this Sunday April 12th, at the NapaValley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater in Yountville and tickets are going fast!

As founding Director and Head of School Printmaking at The Oxbow School, Stephen Thomas leads an interdisciplinary curriculum for high school students in downtown Napa. The curriculum combining rigorous studio art practice with rigorous academics to strengthen students’ creative abilities and critical faculties. Stephen came to Oxbow from his position as the chair of the art department at The Urban School of San Francisco. He was instrumental in the development of the Aim High summer program at the Urban School and led the school through two cycles of the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation process. In 1994 to 1995, he was awarded a Klingenstein Fellowship for a year of study at Teachers College Columbia University. Stephen’s own art career began in the late 1970’s when he worked at Crown Point Press, printing intaglio editions for artists; he ran his own printmaking business from 1980 to 1992.

Actor, producer and consultant Dan O’Connor is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Los Angeles based Improv Theatre, which has performed to sold-out crowds at the Broad Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, South Coast Rep, North Coast Rep, Z Space in San Francisco, the Athaneum in Chicago, and the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley. His acting credits included appearances on shows like Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, and Raising Hope, and more than 75 commercials. He co-created the improv comedy television show World Cup Comedy and directed the sitcoms Sons and Daughters for ABC, and Campus Ladies for the Oxygen Network. Dan has co-created “The Living Story Board” for DreamWorks and Disney Animation, a real-time method for improvisers and animators to explore narrative for animated features. Check out Dan’s multifaceted career on his website.

Dave Madden is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has performed or recorded everywhere from Broadway and Nashville to Austin and Los Angeles. In Austin, he has played to audiences at the Texas State Capitol, Barton Springs Pool and the Long Center, as well as Antone’s, Threadgill’s and the Zach Scott Theatre. He also served as the On-Stage Music Director for the National Youth Gathering concert at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, preparing and performing music for a crowd of 30,000. In 2013, Dave was recognized as the Best Music Arranger at the 2013 AMP Austin Music Industry Awards, and in 2010 he won Best Austin Record with his pop-rock release, Open-Eyed & Broken Wide. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston. Visit his website to hear some of his accomplished musical arrangements.

Katherine (Katy) Haber turned a long career in film and television production into a platform for community outreach. She has spearheaded the Innercity Screening Programme, a gang-prevention effort that brings films and film-makers to LA’s most underprivileged areas; served as executive director of the Dome Village transitional housing community for the homeless; and founded the La Krickets and the Compton Homies and the Popz—homeless and inner city youth cricket teams. With the support of HRH Prince Edward, these teams toured England in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001, and Australia in 2011. The program has become instrumental in helping young men develop into stalwart community members and advocates of gang prevention.