Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Taylor.
Natalie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started teaching private voice lessons at Village Christian School back in 2004 through the after-school program, The Fine Arts Academy. I left Village in 2007 and went on to teach at other schools and colleges – and to continue pursuing a singing/performing career. I was able to travel and perform at Hong Kong Disneyland and also performed in The Voices of Liberty at Disneyland.
In 2011, I was approached by VCS Head of School Tom Konjoyan to be the Director of Fine Arts. Since then, and with the help of our amazing team of teachers, directors, parent volunteers and gifted students, we have seen tremendous growth in our program. From the elementary level, all the way up to high school, our Fine Arts programs have earned superior accolades. We started a dance program five years ago that has laid a strong foundation in all styles of dance, including tap.
Just two years ago, our incredible “Mary Poppins” cast of middle and high school students was invited to perform “Step in Time” on the Pantages Stage for the Jerry Herman Awards. It was a monumental moment for our school to be recognized for our success in the Arts – something that our school had never seen before. This past fall, our Theatre Arts Director Thom Babbes premiered his very own play, “The Human Comedy,” which was a great success for VCS.
Most recently, at our annual Dinner Auction on May 5th, our VCS Dance Company had the honor and privilege of performing alongside “Dancing with the Stars” winner and former cast member of “Hamilton”, Jordan Fisher. It was an unforgettable experience for our students. We pride ourselves in having the very best professional teachers and directors working with our students, helping them achieve excellence in the arts.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
We are very fortunate at Village Christian to have strong support for the Arts from the school community and administration. We are able to dream big and take risks, both of which have paid off throughout these past seven years. I think the biggest challenge for us has been finding the most effective ways to prepare our students for the real world.
We want them to have the skills to be successful, but most importantly, to be grounded in their faith. Our goal is for them to graduate with a firm grasp of what they believe, know who they are, and have an understanding of their strengths. As our society continues to change, so must our approach to reaching our students.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Village Christian School story. Tell us more about the business.
Village Christian School is a K-12 private school whose motto is “College-bound from kindergarten, Christ-centered for life.” Our school is a special place that almost immediately feels like family for those who attend or work there. At the elementary level, students have the opportunity to explore so many areas in learning. Through our Fine Arts Academy, our elementary students can participate in a full-scale Musical Theatre Production every year, take private lessons in a variety of instruments, and take a variety of dance classes.
At the middle and high school levels, students can participate in Fine Arts classes during the school day, as well as in extra-curricular programs after school. There is a place for everyone. I have the privilege of being the Director of Fine Arts, casting a vision and overseeing all of our Fine Arts programs K-12.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in divine intervention. My job at Village Christian has given me the opportunity to see the hand of God working in our students, faculty, staff and the outside community. We are so blessed!
Contact Info:
- Address: 8930 Village Ave. Sun Valley, CA 91352
- Website: www.villagechristian.org
- Phone: 8187678382
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vcscrusaders/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageChristianSchool/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VCSCrusaders
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/vcsfineartsacademy/
Image Credit:
Harry Tom and Greg Fiore
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