KANA CROISSANT

WEST COVINA HIGH SCHOOL ACCOMPANIST & CHOIR DIRECTOR SINCE 2023

Kana Croissant is a professional musician who has, over the course of her career, been associated with several schools, musical productions, and music groups in Southern California. Originally from Nagano, Japan, Kana gained her musical skills and knowledge from various music institutes and private instructors in Nagano and Tokyo: Michiko Takei (Classical Piano), Mar (Jazz Piano), Yuichi Narumi (Voice), Henry Midorikawa (Voice and Music Theory in Jazz).

After graduating from high school in Japan, Kana moved to Los Angeles and continued her education at Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University, where she earned her two Associate’s Degrees in Music in Voice and Performing Arts in Commercial Voice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an emphasis in Commercial Piano Performance respectively.

Citrus College provided many opportunities for Kana to expand and experience different styles and genres of music both in Voice and Piano. She studied Pop Rock under the direction of Gino Munoz; Jazz under the direction of Bill Hoehne, Robert Slack, and Alan Waddington. Kana also studied Voice with Cathrine Ireland, and Piano from Cory Hirsch and Ryan Skiles. Additionally, she joined the orchestra pit for the musical theater productions of Legally Blonde and Shrek under the direction of Alan Waddington. At Azusa Pacific University, Kana studied Piano under the direction of Mark Gasbarro and J.Michael O’Neal, and she performed with Jazz Ensemble, Gospel Choir, Symphony Orchestra and Bel Canto Women’s Choir.

Being a versatile pianist and vocalist who can play and sing in many different styles and genres of music, Kana started her professional career as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach for many schools and colleges; including West Covina High School, California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley, Walnut High School, and Santa Ana College. Moreover, Kana has worked as a music director, a pit orchestra pianist, and a conductor in many local theater and school productions throughout Southern California.

Kana’s first performances with West Covina High School and Mr. Wigglesworth were the musical production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in January 2020. Since then, Mr. Wigglesworth and Kana developed a collaborative relationship and performed together for the musical production of Mamma Mia and The Choral Department’s POPS Concert in 2022. Kana has become the full-time accompanist for the WCHS Choral Department and Performing Arts Academy in Fall 2022, and she started her new position in Spring 2024 as the choral director for two of the WCHS Choral Department ensembles: Melodia and Harmonix. She is beyond excited for this new role and hopes to bring a positive impact and more opportunities learning and performing music to all the students she meets at West Covina High School.