New Venue Offers Music, Art Classes

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Students take part in a Creative Identity art class.
Students take part in a Creative Identity art class.

Creative Identity, an organization providing art and music education to the developmentally disabled since 1996, has opened a Laguna Beach branch at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Currently five students from the organization’s Anaheim branch are attending the local class, which meets Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. year round. “I saw a place where people were being overlooked,” according to founder George Gilliam. “I have wanted to expand our reach to South Orange County for many years. Our partnership with St. Mary’s allows us to bring our program to a new group of people who could greatly benefit from what we offer.”

Gilliam, of Garden Grove, holds a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from California State University, Long Beach and has worked as a music therapist for 21 years.

George Gilliam leads his students in a performance.
George Gilliam leads his students in a performance.

He expects to expand the class to 10 students, who qualify for services from the Orange County Regional Center that are funded by the state Department of Developmental Services. Private pay students are also accepted. Transportation is arranged through OCTA Access buses.

The budding musicians work toward putting on performances at senior centers and the Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa. Their music performance group Pride and the string ensemble can be seen on youtube. For more info: creativeidentity-oc.org.

 

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