Our Vision

Students leave this space having not only grown as artists, with heightened creativity and self-expression, but also armed with tools and skills that will prepare and support them through their life’s journeys.

Meet Our Team

Darby Schnoebelen

Program Manager

Darby’s love for the arts started at the age of five, when she was cast as the lead of a musical, and her passion has only grown over the years. She was born and raised in San Diego County, only leaving to fulfill her dream of moving to New York City and studying Theatre. By the end of her undergrad career, she had three majors: Theatre (Performance and Digital Media), Business (Media and Arts Management), and Communications (Cinema Television and Emerging Media) from Marymount Manhattan College.

Her passion for storytelling then took her to The Disneyland Resort®, where she spent the next three years. In her time there she also received her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.

Darby joined the Youth Arts Academy and Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Team in October 2022, and she is thrilled to share her love of the arts and storytelling to the youth served by the YAA Program.

Wil Lopez

Program Assistant & Music Instructor

Wil discovered his passion for music in middle school band at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. Picking up the clarinet as his first instrument and baritone saxophone in high school, he performed at multiple festivals, musical productions, and in the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra in his junior and senior year. Attending Mesa College and San Diego State University, Wil continued his education in music.

At age 13, Wil discovered a passion for the electric guitar and rock music and that passion led him to perform on stages all over the Southwest United States, writing, recording and releasing his own music, recording with multiple bands of multiple genres. Several of those groups were nominated for San Diego Music Awards.

Wil joined the Youth Arts Academy as an instructor in 2018 and became the Program Assistant in the fall of 2021. Wil is ecstatic to share his passion for music with the youth served at the Youth Arts Academy and is thrilled to push the program forward.

Julia Whelpton

Music Instructor

Also known as “That Blonde Bassist,” Ms. Julia Whelpton has been a working musician and music educator for over a decade. From playing to teaching, she has been involved in many avenues within the music industry. Some of which include writing, creating and filming subjects related to music. She has also been fortunate enough to tour and perform regularly all over the country, playing bass and violin. Julia teaches mostly stringed instruments such as: violin, viola, cello, bass (double and guitar), acoustic/electric guitar, and ukulele, along with voice and piano. Like other instructors in the program, she is a rock band instructor and has taught other small music ensembles throughout the years.

Some of her accomplishments include creating a violin methodology series, sponsored by The Teaching Company, where she wrote and filmed 24 videos on how to play the violin. Julia has also had the pleasure of performing regularly with the San Diego Music Award nominee, Roni Lee, as well as the LA based band: The Infinite Sadness Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins. Most recently, she starred in a few music videos for other musicians and bands, and loves to play as studio session player. Julia proudly endorses Pighog Cables, Reunion Blues Gig Bags, Reverend Guitars, Westone Audio, and Gravity Picks. Needless to say, playing music is not only her passion, but her way of life.

Education: B. A. Music Studies with an emphasis in Violin at Cal Poly Humboldt, formerly Humboldt State University