Welcome to Santa Monica High School Orchestras
Discover Your Musical Talent
At Santa Monica High School Orchestras, we offer a wide range of opportunities for students of all levels to explore their passion for music. From beginners to advanced players, our program has something for everyone. Browse our website to find information about our program, events, schedules, and more. We are excited to welcome you to our community and look forward to sharing our love of music with you.
Meet Our Dedicated Instructors
Our team of instructors is committed to helping each student achieve their musical goals. They bring a wealth of experience and talent to our program and are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inspiring learning environment.
Get to know our instructors below:
Jason Aiello
Jason Aiello began teaching orchestra at Santa Monica High School in 2006, after graduating with honors from UCLA as the recipient of the Joyce Fahlman Fellowship. While at UCLA, he studied music education with Dr. Frank Heuser and cello with Antonio Lysy.
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In addition to his work at Santa Monica High School, Mr. Aiello teaches cello sectionals and conducts the Sinfonia Orchestra for Elemental Strings, a youth orchestra program for elementary school students in Santa Monica. In past summers, Mr. Aiello has served as the Senior Camp Orchestra Director at the La Honda Music Camp in Northern California. As a guest conductor, he has worked with honor orchestras sponsored by CMEA (California Association for Music Education) and SCSBOA (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association).
Mr. Aiello is a Past President of the California Orchestra Directors Association and serves on its board.
Jim Wang
​Prior to Samohi, Jim was the orchestra director at Lincoln Middle School since 2011. He also taught all levels of strings in Rowland Unified School District before joining SMMUSD. Currently he sits on the board of SCSBOA as VP of Orchestra Education.
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During Mr. Wang's tenure, Lincoln’s Chamber Ensemble was invited to perform at ASTA’s National Orchestra Festival in 2015 and 2020. Outside of SMMUSD, Mr. Wang can be found coaching various chamber groups, conducting the SOL-LA Ensemble and the Pacific Blue Music Camp.
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Mr. Wang earned his Master’s in Music Education at the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Biola University. He is currently working on his Doctorate at USC Thornton School of Music in Music Teaching and Learning.
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In his spare time Mr. Wang enjoys the culinary arts, making the best cup of coffee, visiting unique restaurants/eateries in the Greater Los Angeles area, traveling the world with Mrs. Wang* and spending quality time with his son Olivander and pups Pookie and Holly. Mr. Wang is also an avid Instagram-er. Follow him @maestro_wang.
