GUNNAR EISEL

Born and reared near Heidelberg, Germany, Gunnar Eisel has taught and developed programs at California State University, Los Angeles, Whittier College, Fullerton College, and the Los Angeles High School of the Arts. Mr. Eisel holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from Cal State University, Long Beach and a Master’s degree in Music History from Cal State University, Fullerton.

As a full-time faculty member at Citrus College since 1989, Professor Eisel has taught music history, electronic music, guitar, and music theory classes. Mr. Eisel was instrumental in the development of the Citrus Audio and Video Recording Arts Center.

A well-respected teacher, Mr. Eisel's students include Rusty Anderson (lead guitarist for Paul McCartney Band) and Mike Simpson (producer, Beastie Boys and Beck). As chairman of the Guitar program at Cal State University, Los Angeles for 27 years, Eisel guided many guitar majors to successful careers.

For 16 years, Mr. Eisel served as Executive Director of Guitar Foundation of America, the largest guitar organization in America.  He is listed in Who's Who in Entertainment and Who's Who in the West.

ALEX GALVAN

Proficient on piano/midi keyboards, mallet instruments (6 mallets) and bass, Mr. Galvan has been a featured performer in a variety of venues including film composition (Kingsley’s Meadow, aired on Pax nationwide, The Pope’s North American Tour and others), on stage (musical director and actor: Patsy Cline review: A Closer Walk) and as a jazz soloist playing piano and vibes simultaneously for the Bob Newhart stage show accompanied by a big band, and on recordings including Royale Crown Revue and the Guy Lombardo Band. Mr. Galvan has recently produced a training video for the U.S. Government on the Air Curtain Burner, a large scale high efficiency burner for environmentally friendly disposal of forest products. His work included scripting, camera, non-linear editing, voice over and music composition. Mr. Galvan’s voice has been heard over KCIV 99.9 FM advertising the facilities of an organization camp in a radio commercial produced in his home studio.

In collaboration with a colleague from the philosophy department, Mr. Galvan has completed a musical on the politic scene of America which includes composition, arranging, orchestration and recording. Prior to his employment at Citrus College, Mr. Galvan was an Assistant Professor of Music at Cal Poly Pomona.

BILL HOEHNE

Bill Hoehne is the Director of Chamber Winds and Percussion at Citrus College.  He is an accomplished musician with over 27 years experience as a professional woodwinds performer and 25 years as a music educator.  Mr. Hoehne earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music degree from the University of Miami at Coral Gables, and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California. 

He has performed extensively in numerous recording studios in the Miami and Southern California areas, and has performed with leading artists, including the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, the Temptations, Joan Rivers, the Modernaires, and many others.  Mr. Hoehne is certified as a Master Adjudicator for the concert, street and field events of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.  During his term as Vice-President of Field Adjudication, Mr. Hoehne initiated the evolution of the SCSBOA Field Adjudication System, and implemented the first Field Adjudicator Evaluation System.  In 1996, 1998 and 2000, he toured Europe as featured soloist and member of the instruction/conducting staff with the Southern California Ambassadors of Music.  Mr. Hoehne was the conductor of the 1995 and 2003 SCSBOA All-Southern Middle School Honor Bands, and is honored to be continuously called upon to work as an adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician for distinguished school wind band programs and honor groups in the Western United States.

ROBERT SLACK

Robert Slack received a Master of Trumpet Degree from Indiana University, and since then, has grown to be a respected professional in the music industry.

Mr. Slack shares with his students and faculty impressive personal and professional experience.  After several years touring professionally with Paul Anka and Buddy Rich, Mr. Slack has also performed with Celine Dion, Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston and Trisha Yearwood, among others.

Mr. Slack’s talents have extended into numerous recording sessions for Mattel, Toyota, Diet Coke, Pillsbury, Ford Motor, Taco Bell, Tristar Pictures, Disneyland, NBC News and CNN.  Film credits include Disney’s D3: The Mighty Ducks, Casper, Dillinger and Capone, Desert Storm for HBO and most recently the hit movie, That Thing You Do! Mr. Slack also performed for former President Ronald Reagan in Phil Donahue’s 25th Anniversary Special.

Among his honors, Mr. Slack received the coveted Jazz Educator of the Year Award from the International Jazz Educator’s Association.

A major driving force behind the visionary conception and planning of the innovative Entertainment Technology Complex, Mr. Slack continues to guide and develop the exemplary instrumental music program into a creative and professional training vehicle for the students of Citrus College.

Few community colleges can boast of the professional experience and assiduous commitment Mr. Slack has brought to the music students of Citrus College.

DAVID BEATTY

Bachelor of Music, Cal State Northridge, David has been active on the Los Angeles studio music scene since 1978. He has been a member of the Bill Watrous Refuge West Big Band and is currently performing with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra. Among many recording credits are jingles for Mercedes Benz, Budweiser, Carnival Cruises and NBC News as well as motion pictures such as A Minor Miracle, Newsies, Hocus Pocus and Heavyweights. Additionally, he has numerous recording credits for almost every major gospel artist and has participated in live recordings for The Integrity Music Label in Israel and South Africa. He is the founder of “Slideworks”, a professional trombone quartet and also maintains a vigorous teaching schedule at a number of Southern California colleges and universities.

STEVE COTTER

Bachelor and Master of Music from the University of North Texas, Steve directed a big and taught guitar classes while attaining his Master degree in Music. He has had the opportunity to work with Marc Johnson, Buster Williams, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Pike, Sandra Booker, James Mahone, Willie Jones III, Duffy Jackson, Roy McCurdy, Bobby Caldwell and many others. Steve joined the Citrus College faculty in the Fall of 1997. He teaches Applied Music, Guitar and Jazz Combo.

JOE JACKSON

Joseph Jackson is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he studied with Tommy Johnson and Jim Self. Joseph is principle tubist with the Rio Hondo and Carson Dominguez Hills Symphony. Joseph has performed with the New West Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, and the Long Beach Ballet. Besides orchestral work, Joseph has performed many solo and chamber music concerts and festivals.

Joseph is the instructor here at Citrus College. He also organizes and instructs master classes and is frequently a clinician at schools in the Los Angeles area. He has recorded with the GKM Jazz Orchestra and can be heard on the soundtrack for the movie Barbershop. Joseph recently was a featured performer at the Southwest Tuba/Euphonium Conference.

JENNI OLSEN SCOTT

Jennifer Scott is an active orchestral and chamber music performer in the Los Angeles area.  She performs regularly with various orchestras such as Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, and the Pacific Symphony.  She is currently principal flute with the Stockton Symphony and second flute with the Long Beach Symphony and Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra.  Performers she has worked with include John Williams, James Galway, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Dianne Reeves, Jerry Goldsmith, Terence Blanchard, Kelsey Grammer, John Lithgow, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock. You can hear Jennifer on recent soundtracks such as Night at the Museum 2, Eagle Eye, Rest Stop and 2012.  Jennifer received her BA from California State University, Stanislaus where she studied with Caryl Mae Scott and received her MM and DMA from University of Southern California where she studied with Jim Walker.

www.jenniferflute.com

DANIEL SILVA

Dan Silva, a former Citrus College student, received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida, where he studied with the legendary Chicago Saxophonist “Bunky” Green. Dan had the honor of being the first winner of the Mullikin-Matteson Jazz Scholarship Competition in 1999, and was also the recipient of the North East Florida Jazz Scholarship in 1999. Dan is currently the tenor saxophonist with the Pacific Saxophone Quartet and freelance musician. Dan’s career highlights so far include performances with Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Diane Schurr, Impacto Latino and a performance for the Queen of England and Royal Family.

MICHAEL SUSHEL

Michael Sushel is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and has earned a reputation as an extremely versatile musician, having played and recorded with almost every conceivable type of musical ensemble from classical, jazz, and rock groups to film and records.  He has performed in concert with singer B.J. Ward at Carnegie Hall in New York, played for film and TV shows such as the Emmy Awards, appeared in concert with rock groups such as Ambrosia, and recorded for artists as diverse as R&B singer Rick James and composer Daniel Lentz, the latter with whom he toured Japan in 1991.  In the spring of 2003, he traveled to China to meet with piano faculty and teach young pianists at the Beijing and Shanghai Conservatories. In addition to his performing engagements and private teaching, Michael is currently Professor of Piano at Citrus College.

BRYAN TAYLOR

Bryan began his instrumental music training at the age of nine. He has studied trombone, percussion, drumset, guitar and piano privately. Upon graduating from high school, Bryan focused his studies strictly on percussion. He attended Citrus College in Southern California and played with several of their performing groups including the acclaimed Blue Note Swing Orchestra, which toured throughout Japan and Hawaii.

After completing three years at Citrus College, Bryan transferred to Azusa Pacific University to continue his studies in percussion. He performed with several of the ensemble groups on campus, which spanned the genres of classical, fusion, jazz and contemporary styles. In 2003 Bryan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in percussion performance and began working as a full-time staff member at APU. In 2006 Bryan completed a Masters of Music degree from Azusa Pacific.

Today Bryan works at Azusa Pacific as the Associate Director of Chapel Programs. He is also a faculty percussion instructor at Citrus College. He has traveled and played with many different musical artists to Greece, Australia, Japan, China, France, Philippines, London and across the United States. Bryan has had the opportunity to play, record and or perform with such artists as Justo Almario, Mac Powell, Lee Ritenour, Chuck Gerard, Tommy Walker, Brendan McCrery, Gwen Stefani, Jeff Hamilton, Candace Divine and Abraham Laboriel.

ALAN WADDINGTON

Alan Waddington has performed in many varied settings. He has played percussion or produced music from punk rock to classical and about anything between those categories.

Alan got his “first break” in the US with the rock band “The Unforgiven” which was the subject of a record setting bidding war in the music industry. This led to appearances on MTV, radio airplay, and major touring. This also led to his involvement with Bon Jovi, Vince Neal, Joe Walsh, and Willie Nelson.

In 1995 Alan was on tour in Seoul with the musical “A Chorus Line”. This led to his ongoing association and friendship with Mr. Ha and “The Seoul Pops Orchestra”. This is also where he met his beautiful wife Seung Ah. Recently he drummed with Gwen Stefani on the song “Rich Girl” on “The Grammies” world wide television production. He is also responsible for the drum line that performs with Gwen on her number 1 song “Hollaback Girl”. Alan is active with placement of students professionally and academically during and after their tenure at Citrus College.
He has helped develop the music program at Citrus College since 1987 primarily with the award winning jazz, pop and rock groups