John Zeretzke

John Zeretzke is an American teacher, flute player and composer. After conducting flute making workshops with school children for many years, he was accused of lewd conduct with children in 2017 and other sex charges in 2019. Many of the charges are related to his flutes.[1][2][3]

John Zeretzke
GenresWorld music
Occupation(s)Teacher, musician, composer
InstrumentsFlute, violin
Associated actsNorma Tanega
Websitewww.zworldmusic.com

Teaching

Zeretzke taught music to children and young adults for over 30 years through the Los Angeles Music Center.[4][5] He also taught summer programs through the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County.[6]

Flutes Across The World

In 2009, Zeretzke founded and directed Flutes Across The World, a humanitarian and educational organization.[7][8][9] It is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that registered in 2013.[10]

For the program, Zeretzke taught students to make flutes out of PVC piping, corks and hot glue.[2][11] Each student decorated two, to send to children in the least developed countries.[12] These flutes wound up in the Philippines, Central America and Haiti.[13]

Film scoring

Zeretze composed the soundtracks for:

Awards
  • 1995 Horton Award for Music for Dance for Light (with Laura Dean)[15]
  • In 1999, Zeretzke's work with children was recognized with the Professional Artists in Schools Award.[16]
  • Zeretzke was given the 2009 Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award by the City of Ojai.[17]

Criminal charges

Zeretze was arrested by Los Angeles county police and federal postal inspectors, who accused him of lewd conduct with children, coercing a girl to produce child pornography, attempting to entice another person to send him sexually explicit images, receiving child pornography over the internet, and traveling to the Philippines to engage in sex with minors. As of June 2019, he is held in the Orange County Jail. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.[1][2][3][18]

References
  1. "School girls in Costa Mesa, Castaic photographed using semen-tainted flutes, grand jury transcript reveals". Orange County Register. June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  2. Queally, James (October 7, 2017). "Claims of semen-tainted flutes roil schools across Southern California". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  3. "Southern California man at center of tainted flute investigation arrested on child exploitation charges". Orange County Register. September 17, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  4. Boehm, Mike (June 24, 2015). "Music Center cuts back its arts education at schools". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  5. Oliande, Sylvia (January 30, 1998). "Composer Strikes Chord With Students". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  6. Pecy, Nathan (July 20, 2016). "Saddleback Valley Unified teachers, Segerstrom art instructors create a fun, interactive English learning experience for kids". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  7. "About". Flutes Across the World. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  8. "BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH MUSIC : Ojai fundraiser Winds and Wines supports Flutes Across the World". VC Reporter. August 2, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  9. Estremera, Stella (January 9, 2016). "Flutes across the World: Gaining compassion through music and the arts". Sun Star (Philippine newspaper). Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  10. "Flutes Across the World Incorporated". Charity Navigator. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  11. Pierce, Harold (August 8, 2015). "Flute program spreads music across the globe". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  12. "Pitch perfect: Campers create, send flutes to children in Phillipines". Santa Maria Times. August 14, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  13. "Flutes made by Circle V Ranch campers find their way to Phillipines". Santa Maria Times. February 26, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  14. "John Zeretzke". IMDb. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  15. Segal, Lewis (June 18, 1995). "Dance Center Bestows Horton Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  16. Heffley, Lynne (October 29, 1999). "Turn On That TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  17. Beirne, Christine. "Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award". City of Ojai. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  18. Schwebke, Scott (September 18, 2018). "Tainted-flute inquiry has link to Ventura suspect in child sex crimes". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 30, 2019 – via Ventura County Star.
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