Santa Ana, California, U.S.

Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D.

President & CEO

Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D. is an executive leader with more than 25 years of professional experience in arts education, arts leadership, and developing successful entrepreneurial arts training programs for young artists. He founded Orange County School of the Arts in 1987 and currently serves as President & CEO of Orange County Music & Dance, building on his legacy of expanding access to exceptional arts education.

“We are going to be the premier community art center in Orange County and beyond.”

Background

Ralph S. Opacic founded the award-winning Orange County School of the Arts in 1987 and served as executive director and president until 2021, building it into one of the top-ranked arts high schools in the country. He is credited for assembling the finest artist-teachers and academic instructors in Southern California and creating opportunities for young performing and visual artists to develop their talents to their greatest potential. Following his tenure at OCSA, he spent several years consulting with arts schools and institutions across California and the country. In October 2025, he became President & CEO of Orange County Music & Dance, where he is leading a major expansion that includes acquiring a second campus and implementing a "womb to tomb" approach to arts education, offering programs from early childhood through adult classes.