Our Teachers
Alison Kalmus
Acting Instructor and Dramaturge
With over 25 years of film/ theater performance experience and multi-subject academic teaching, Ms. Kalmus has also been a Casting and Voice-Over Director for NASA’s Space Place in a Snap and NOAA’s Scijinx educational videos, Walt Disney Co. Independent Shakespeare Co. Ms. Kalmus is a resource acting coach for L.A County High School of the Arts. In association with Pasadena Polytechnic School, she developed curricula, taught, trained and supervised teachers for Noteworthy Music & Learning Systems in public and private schools throughout Los Angeles County. An award-winning director of theater, musicals and opera nationally and internationally, she was recently nominated for NAACP 2015 “Best Musical Theater Direction” for SMP’s The Gondoliers. Ms Kalmus developed Shakespeare in the Park programs (2005 – 2009) in association with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation. She currently teaches Speech and Debate for nationally designated “Top Five in Excellence” (2011-2015) Kudos College of Learning.
For more information on Alison Kalmus, please visit LinkedIn.
Kana Croissant
Music and Vocal Instructor
Kana Croissant is a professional musician who is associated with several schools, musical productions, and music groups in southern California. Originally from Nagano, Japan, Kana gained her musical skills and knowledge from various music institutes and private instructors in Nagano and Tokyo, Japan: Michiko Takei (Classical piano), Mar (Jazz piano), Yuichi Narumi (Voice), Henry Midorikawa (Jazz vocal and theory). In 2010, Kana moved to LA and continued her education with Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University in CA with many professors including Gino Munoz, Alan Waddington, Robert Slack, Catherine Ireland (Voice), Cory Hirsch (Piano), J.Michael O'Neal (Jazz piano), and Mark Gasbarro (Piano).
Kana is currently working for CSArts and other high schools as an accompanist; moreover, she works as a music director, a pit orchestra pianist, and a conductor in many local theater and school productions throughout SoCal.
Dianne Harmel
Music and Vocal Instructor
Currently, Ms. Harmel is the CEO and artistic director of Foothill Academy of Vocal Arts (FAVA), a nonprofit organization she founded in 2006 to provide voice instruction and choral music opportunities for elementary and high school youth in the Greater Pasadena area. As a performer, Ms. Harmel is an accomplished mezzo-soprano soloist specializing in oratorio work; however, her passion is teaching others to sing. She is an Adjunct Professor of Applied Voice at Azusa Pacific University and at Life Pacific College, where she also serves as Choir Director. Additionally, Dianne has a private studio in her home in Monrovia where her current voice students range in age from 8 to 78. She received her musical education locally in Los Angeles, with a B.M. in Vocal Performance from USC and an M.A in Music (Emphasis in Vocal Pedagogy) from CSULA.
Amy Sara Lim
Alumnus T.A.
Amy Sara has been a member of AKT and SCLT with Alison Kalmus since the age of six. Credits include Lucy in Narnia, Little Fan/Belinda in A Christmas Carol, and NASA voiceover projects - all directed by Alison Kalmus. In 2021, Amy graduated from Chapman University, where, in five years, she earned her BA in English and her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She hopes to pursue a career in teaching English and theater arts.