Meet our Staff!
Reynaldo Cartagena
(He/Him)
Founder, Executive Director
Music Instructor
(Piano, Guitar/Bass, Drums)
You can reach me at:
Email: r.cartagena@rcep.us
Phone Number: 323-250-6052
Reynaldo Cartagena is a multi-disciplinary creative and educator. With over two decades of working as a performing and recording musician, producer/artistic director, and occasional actor, he brings his experiences from the studio and stage into the classroom. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, he is a Billboard charting producer/composer with credits for a number of music artists, bands, and other projects. He also works with various educational institutions as a musical director for theatre departments, vocal/instrumental ensemble teacher, and music/sound design consultant and contractor.
His love of music and his passion for educating stem from the same place: creating a space for collaboration, growth and community with like-minded individuals. This combination leads to what is now RCEP, the community-based sandbox for youth to grow in their artistry and alongside their peers.
RCEP's pillars of creative enrichment, empowerment, and a safe space are direct reflections of Reynaldo's tenets of creativity/artistry, individual growth &
pedagogy, and creating spaces for vulnerability and truth. As these ideas drive the RCEP vision from a broad perspective, Reynaldo's individualized approach to sharing and educating creates a unique environment for learning and thriving for students and staff alike.
Jacky Jung
(She/Her)
Vice President, Acting Instructor
(Film, Theatre, TV, Voice Over)
You can reach me at:
Email: j.jung@rcep.us
Phone Number: 424-258-4938
Jacky Jung is a Film, Voice Over, Theatre, and Musical Theatre actress who started her training in 2010 (in the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts!). She is an alumna of USC's School of Dramatic Arts (Acting Emphasis B.A.) and has training from SMC's Theatre Department (go community college kids!) and Playhouse West (Los Angeles).
She has a broad range of training in multiple acting disciplines. With multiple film, theatre, and voice-over credits under her belt, she uses these experiences and her current ongoing practices that she utilizes in her auditions and acting work in her teaching.
Jacky’s teaching philosophy with acting is to help actors of any experience level access their creative voice and find the personalized tools and exercises that help them tap into their characters. She recognizes that each person approaches and learns in different and unique ways, so her goal as an instructor is to discover with and alongside her students.
Jacky also provides audition coaching, helping actors book roles in theatre, television, and film and make confident, bold, and fun choices in auditions.
Jacky is available for in-person and online private lessons and audition coaching.
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Please reach out to her via email or text to confirm schedules before signing up on the scheduling portal.
Michelle Lin
(She/They)
Theatre, Musical Theatre Instructor
You can reach me at:
Email: michelle@rcep.us
Phone Number: 512-900-1928
Michelle Lin is an actor and musician with a multifaceted background in movement (circus/dance). Originally from Austin, TX, Michelle (she/they) is now based in Los Angeles where she enjoys teaching Theatre/Musical Theatre/Voice with RCEP. As a musician, she grew up playing piano and violin and currently sings and songwrites with her trusty-but-dusty guitar.
She is an alumnus of the University of Southern California, where she studied Communication, Cinematic Arts, and Theatre, and began her journey as an actress through Theatre and Therapy.
Michelle’s teaching philosophy is centered around art as empowerment. She believes in artists using their power to embody and speak their truth through action, movement, and voice. As an artist who had to briefly step away from their art, Michelle firmly believes in art as a tool to heal, express, and build empathy. Michelle first learned how to unconditionally love and pursue art in a healthy manner through circus school (thank you, Kinetic Theory family!), where she trained in trapeze, aerial silk, contortion, and acrobatics. Beyond circus arts, Michelle has studied contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, and was a dancer with the Traditional Chinese Dance team at USC.
Michelle would love to work with you/your kiddos! Please reach out to her at michelle@rcep.us to discuss online or in-person private lessons/coaching.
