Colburn School
Sel Kardan is an accomplished music industry leader with extensive experience in executive roles. Serving as President and CEO of The Colburn School since October 2009, Kardan previously held the same position at the Music Institute of Chicago from November 2005 to September 2009. Prior to these roles, Kardan was Executive Director of the Shriver Hall Concert Series from May 2002 to October 2005 and the Heifetz International Music Institute from September 1999 to May 2002. Kardan holds both a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, completed in 1992 and 1991, respectively.
Colburn School
The Colburn School provides young people who possess a passion for music, dance, and drama access to quality instruction so they may further explore their interests and continue developing their talents. Our renowned faculty, including professional performers from nationally and internationally acclaimed companies, guide you through classes appropriate and catered to your age and skill level. Young beginners in the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts start by mastering the basics and build confidence with each new level of achievement. High school students hone their skills in the Colburn Music or Dance Academies, and college-age students prepare for careers in the performing arts through diploma and degree programs at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. Every year our students and faculty present hundreds of free or affordable performances in our beautiful, professional theaters on campus as well as in prestigious venues around Los Angeles. In fact, the Colburn School is conveniently located at the center of the thriving downtown arts corridor. We’re surrounded by the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, The Music Center, and Grand Performances at California Plaza. Also in the neighborhood are the Museum of Contemporary Art and Los Angeles Public Library. Our staff and faculty are committed to bringing music performances and education into the greater community so others can experience the many benefits associated with the performing arts. The Colburn School partners with 15 Los Angeles Unified School District schools, 13 of which receive Title I funding, providing interactive and engaging concerts and instructional sessions to 5,000 students every year. Our goal is to accommodate students in developing a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts whenever possible without the constraints of financial concerns. We award $500,000 need-based scholarships to the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts every year.