Joey Ancona is an accomplished arts educator, director, and musician with more than three decades of experience in theatre, music, and interdisciplinary arts education. He holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre in Acting and Directing from California State University, Fullerton. Ancona has dedicated much of his career to mentoring young artists and developing innovative arts programs that integrate multiple disciplines while fostering creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth.

Most recently, Ancona served as Director of the Integrated Arts Conservatory at the California School of the Arts–San Gabriel Valley, where he oversaw curriculum development, faculty leadership, and programming for students in grades 6–12. Previously, he spent nearly a decade at the Orange County School of the Arts as Director of the Production and Design Conservatory and Technical Director, managing more than 120 performances and events annually while supervising student production teams and developing curriculum.

In addition to his work in theatre education, Ancona is a professional musician and co-owner and music director of School of Rock Huntington Beach, where he coaches students in bass, vocals, and live performance. His directing credits include productions such as Hadestown, Into the Woods, Mean Girls, and Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.