About FHMA

Our Parent Program

Orange Coast Musical Arts began with a man who wanted to teach music. OCMA’s story began in 1996 when Donn Hallman (an avid brass musician) offered to teach a few young homeschoolers how to play recorders. Having instilled in them a love of music, they began to ask if they could play real-life band instruments. Not long after, the “Let’s Do Lunch Band” was formed. A few years later, the band had grown from 8 to 20 members. In 2000, Orange Coast Musical Arts was incorporated as a non-profit, centering its location at Village Bible Church in Garden Grove. Now incorporated, OCMA created an intermediate band and a violin class. The advanced band was then renamed “Alpha Winds” and was soon performing about 15 times a year. Between 2005 and 2009, OCMA added the Charis Chamber Orchestra, the Sound Waves Homeschool Marching Band, and the OCMA Independent Drumline. In 2011, a choral program was introduced.

Our Story

With the growing popularity of OCMA, families from in and outside of Orange County began attending classes. Before long, families began asking for sites nearer their hometowns. OCMA decided that it needed to expand it services to LA County and, in 2013, established a site in Walnut. A few years later, “Foothill Musical Arts” became the official name for our LA County sites.