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.

LAURA BRENES

Laura Brenes (formerly Laura Griffiths) currently sits Principal Horn for the Redlands Symphony, Fourth Horn in the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and Assistant Principal Horn for the Oregon Coast Festival Orchestra. She also is very active in the recording studios and can be heard on many motion picture soundtracks as a section player. Her advanced education began at Brigham Young University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music performance. After that, Miss Griffiths attended the University of Southern California on scholarship where she received her Master’s Degree in Music Performance while in the studio of Vincent DeRosa. She has toured all over the US as well as Eastern Europe and China, with a number of different musical groups. Miss Griffiths performs with many orchestras including the Long Beach Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, New West Symphony, and Santa Barbara Symphony. As well as teaching at the University of Redlands, she also teaches at Citrus College and has a large home studio with students of all ages.

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.

EVAN HIRSCHELMAN

Evan Hirschelman is an award-winning American classical guitarist and composer, born in Detroit, Michigan.

He is known as a classical composer who incorporates other musical styles into his music, including jazz, rock and metal influences. His music has been recorded by some of today's most respected musicians, including the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang. One example of his compositional style is the work "Lament and Wake", which is featured on the Grammy award winning recording LAGQ's Guitar Heroes, Telarc Records.

As a guitarist Hirschelman has been a prize winner in multiple competitions, including the Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition. He is known as an expressive artist who incorporates extended techniques such as tapping and slapping into his playing style. He has collaborated with diverse artists, including jazz-fusion pioneer Rick Laird of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, classical guitarist Scott Tennant, rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, and the late legendary jazz great Ted Greene.

Hirschelman is a graduate of the University of Southern California and University of Arizona. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Evan resides in Los Angeles, CA where he is on the faculty at the Musicians Institute, Hollywood. His debut CD "Water in Darkness" was released in 2008 followed by a guitar instruction book published by the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Evan resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net.

THOMAS HYNES

Master of Music, Cal State Los Angeles. Tom is an active guitarist, jazz artist, educator and clinician in the Southern California area. His debut album, “The Sun Shop” (Chase Music Group), features his original contemporary jazz compositions and includes guest appearances by John Patitucci and Eric Marinthal. His professional credits range from appearances with Bob Hope to the Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra and the films Bright Angel and Rapid Fire. Tom recently completed Siete, a new composition commissioned by Citrus, which was featured on the Jazz Band’s newest recording, “Take A Number.” Hynes’ original large jazz ensemble compositions are available from UNC Jazz Press. In 1996, Tom toured the Middle East and Northeast Africa as a United States Information Agency “Jazz Ambassador”.

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.

Selected Recordings: Choros #2 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You The Eagle Has Landed

BILLY KERR

Billy Kerr, a versatile musician, is an accomplished jazz artist, composer, arranger and clinician.  Brooklyn born and raised on Long Island, he completed his studies at the Juilliard School of Music and Queens College receiving a BA in music.  His major studies were with Augustin Duques (clarinet), Joseph Allard (clarinet and saxophone) and Thomas Nyfenger (flute).  His studies in composition and arranging began at Queens College with John Carisi and continued over the years with Don Sebesky, Manny Album, Jim McNeely, Roger Kellaway, and Vince Mendoza.

After a four-year hitch in the Air Force Band, Billy established a busy career recording for television, films and commercials and gained extensive experience in the Broadway musical theatre.

Billy has performed with a variety of artists covering every musical style.  Most notably, they include Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Peter Allen, Henry Mancini, Julie Andrews, Sammy Davis Jr., and Mel Torme.  He has also performed with jazz artists such as Phil Woods, Bob Mintzer, the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band and The National Jazz Ensemble.  Performances with the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble and the Brooklyn Philharmonic under distinguished conductors like Gunther Schuller and Lukas Foss show yet another facet of his abilities.

As tenor saxophonist with the New York Saxophone Quartet, Billy has performed in Europe, Japan, Canada and throughout the United States.  In addition to concert performances, the Quartet has appeared on the “Tonight Show” and participated in many teaching clinics.  The group has recorded several albums, all of which spotlight Billy’s skills as a soloist and writer.

As a composer and arranger, Billy has written for every type of ensemble from duets to big band.  For four years he was a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, which concentrated primarily on the art of composing for big band.  His original saxophone quartet “Send In the New Boy” was premiered at the Tenth World Saxophone Congress in Italy in 1992.  This piece and several other quartet and octet arrangements written by Billy are published with UNC Jazz Press. His saxophone duet “Conversation for Two Baritones” is published by Opus 102 Music Publishers in Montreal .

In 1995 Billy moved to Montreal, Canada where he continued to work in the theatre, record for the National Film Board and CBC, as well as lead his own jazz quintet.  He performed with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, playing clarinet and a variety of saxophone solos.  Billy was the soprano saxophonist in the “Phenix” saxophone quartet, which included his wife baritone saxophonist Nancy Newman. 

Since 2000 Billy has resided in Los Angeles, where he received his Masters degree at the University of Southern California.  He remains active in L.A. appearing in concerts and recordings with the likes of Bill Holman, Lennie Niehaus. Clare Fischer, and Kurt Elling.  Billy plays regularly in bands led by Buddy Childers, Bob Florence, Steve Huffsteter, Kim Richmond, Bruce Eskovitz(BEJO), and singer, Cathy Segal-Garcia. In 2005, Billy was a featured soloist at Fesival Jazz en Lima, Peru.  While there, he played lead alto with Maria Schneider as well as led his own quartet in a series of concerts.   In addition to his busy performing schedule, Billy writes CD reviews for “Saxophone Journal” and is on the faculty of Citrus College and the College of the Canyons. 

Billy can be heard on his CD “The Eagle has Landed….eh?”, on the Productions Bilanci label, and as a soloist on “Alternate Routes” with the New York Neophonic Orchestra, on the Tantara label.  He may also be heard as a soloist and arranger on “The New York Saxophone Quartet”, on the Stash label, “Free Trade” with the Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet, on the CBC Jazzimage label, and “Kentucky Roastup” with The Osland Saxophone Quartet on the Sea Breeze label.

Billy is a performing artist for Buffet clarinets, and Vandoren reeds.
www.BillyKerr.com

JENNI OLSON

Jennifer Olson 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

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.