MARTIN GREEN

Martin Green won First Place in the Eisteddfod International Piano Competition in Wales at the age of sixteen. He studied piano and voice at the University of Southern California, then continued to earn his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University adding studies in organ and composition. While there, he performed roles in operatic productions and toured Europe with the A Capella Singers. He lived in France and Switzerland for two years and while there, performed with the male quartet Voices of Brotherhood. He completed his Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from California State University at Fullerton under the tutelage of Howard Swan. He has won numerous contests for his sacred choral and vocal compositions. He is currently director of the Citrus Vocal Ensemble and the Concert Choir and has taught a variety of choral, opera, and vocal music classes, as well as private voice lessons for seventeen years at Citrus College in Glendora, California. Mr. Green has sung with the Pacific Chorale and Opera Pacific and has recorded a solo CD entitled Classical Piano.

DOUGLAS AUSTIN (SHROPE)

Douglas Austin (Director of the internationally acclaimed Citrus College Singers) began teaching in the fall of 1985 and has devoted twenty years to the students in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Citrus College. Drawing on his own impressive credentials as a professional performer, choral conductor, stage and musical director with well over 100 productions to his credit, Austin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Citrus College.

He is director of the Citrus Singers, creator of the Citrus College Women’s Ensemble, co-director of the musical theatre program and co-creator and director of the Citrus Summer Conservatory. He also supervises the Applied Music/Individual Study program in which over two hundred students participate each semester.

Besides his extensive work at Citrus College, Douglas is the Resident Musical Director at the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre in Claremont, continues to work as a stage and musical director for local theaters, as well as for corporate-sponsored events, and has enjoyed a successful performance career though out the country. He has musically directed all “in-house” shows for the Los Angeles County Fair since 1991 including their 75th anniversary celebration and serves as musical director for the Children’s Hospital of Orange County’s annual CHOC follies.

With over thirty years of professional and educational experience in the music and theatre industries, a passion for teaching and a consistent dedication to excellence, Douglas Austin has truly enhanced the educational development of the Citrus College Music Department.

CATHY IRELAND

Australian Soprano, Catherine Ireland has performed and covered many roles with the Los Angeles Opera and Opera Australia, including Micaela and Frasquita in Carmen, Gretel and the Dew Fairy in Hansel und Gretel, Violetta and Annina in La Traviata and the title role in Faure’s Penelope.  With San Diego Opera, Ms. Ireland sang Barbarina and covered Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro.  To great acclaim, she has also ventured into contempory repertoire with such modern scores as Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and The Mistress in Thomas Ades' Powder Her Face.  Most recently Ms. Ireland was seen as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.

After completeing her education at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Ms. Ireland won the prestigious Royal Opera House Covent Garden Scholarship to study at the National Opera Studio in London.  She has been a national finalist with The Loren L. Zachary Competition and a regional finalist in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  Catherine’s voice can be heard behind the US national television commercials for Skytel pagers and Volvo Automobiles.

JANICE LEE

Janice Lee has a long history with Citrus College. She is a former member of The Citrus Singers, and has been teaching voice at the college for fifteen years. Janice is also the head of the vocal music program at St. Lucy’s High School in Glendora. Mrs. Lee has performed with Master Symphonies throughout Southern California, and has toured the United States and Europe as a soprano soloist. She has also delighted audiences for 19 years as Mrs. Claus in the Candlelight Pavilion’s annual production of ““The Wonderful World of Christmas”. Janice feels that the most successful singers are those who are well rounded in all styles of music, and strives to implement this philosophy in her teaching.

ROB MACNEIL

Tenor Robert MacNeil first gained attention after winning first place in the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions. Possessing a voice the Los Angeles Times call ““clarion” and ““clear”, Mr. MacNeil made his Carnegie Hall solo debut in December 1998 in Britten’s The World of the Spirit. He has soloed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in performances of Elijah, with the Sydney Choral Festival(Australia) in the Berlioz Requiem, in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Central Union Philharmonic in Beijing and at the Vatican in a performance of Verdi's Requiem.

The tenor portrayed Ruiz in Il Trovatore with Los Angeles Opera and made his debut under Kent Nagano in Orff’s Die Kluge with the famed Ojai Festival. He has soloed with the Oregon Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale,  Pacific Chorale, Long Beach Opera,  Santa Barbara Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Angeles Chorale, Aspen Chamber Orchestra, Opera Santa Barbara, New West Symphony, Bozeman Symphony and numerous appearances with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Third Angel New Music Ensemble, the William Hall Master Chorale, Bakersfield Symphony, the California Master Chorale, and the Cascade Music Festival.

Mr. MacNeil and the Aspen Chamber Orchestra presented the world premiere of Aaron Copland’s Suite from the Tender Land. His performance met with critical acclaim and was later recorded with the Third Angle New Music Ensemble. Following that success, conductor Murry Sidlin featured the tenor on the complete recording of Copland’s opera, The Tender Land, which was released on the Koch International Label  to commemorate Copland’s 100th birthday.

KEELY MILLIKEN

Keely Milliken, the current director of the Women’s Ensemble, is pleased to continue the dedicated work of Mr. Douglas Austin Shrope, creator and director of Rhapsody in Rhythm.  Mr. Austin Shrope has devoted over seventeen years to the students in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Citrus College.  He is now currently the successor to Mr. Ben D. Bollinger as the Director for the highly acclaimed Citrus Singers.

Mrs. Milliken is a former Citrus Singer and a graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance.  She is also the founder of Centre Stage, Inc., Centre Stage Studios/private vocal instruction and teaches private voice in the Citrus College Music Department. With over 13 years of professional experience in the music and theatre industries, she has directed/ musical directed over 25 musicals and Broadway reviews.  Her passion for musical theatre can be seen in various theatres throughout Southern California.

Keely Milliken is a dynamic teacher that strives to challenge her students to reach for musical excellence which develops their talents, broadens their knowledge and strengthens their commitment. She is dedicated to inspiring young people both on and off the stage.  Mrs. Milliken is truly an asset to the educational development of Rhapsody in Rhythm, the “hidden jewel” of the Citrus Music Department.

VONNETTA MIXSON

Vonetta Mixson is an energetic and disciplined individual who has a successful track record as an entertainer, business consultant/speaker, and professor and ministry leader.  Her journey has been far from conventional and she attributes much of her success to role music has played in her life.  As an alumnus of the Citrus College Vocal Music Department she is thrilled to be on staff as a private voice instructor.

As an entertainer she continues a successful vocalist/actress career of more than 12years.  Her stylistic ability has allowed her to travel both nationally and internationally performing a variety of genres from classical to pop repertoire.  2006 is filled with performances of the new musical Bite! (Candlelight Pavilion), two productions of Smokey Joe's Cafe (Performance Riverside/Candlelight Pavilion), and Dreamgirls (Moonlight Amphitheatre).

Additionally, Mrs. Mixson's educational background has allowed her to exercise her passion for business administration/management.  Her ability to develop effective business strategies are communicated throughout all levels of an organization.  As a graduate of California Baptist University and University of Phoenix she learned the power of strong networking and communication skills.  This has consistently generated long-term business growth and improved performance for companies in which she is hired to provide training and consultation.

Currently, she is enjoying and keeping herself quite busy with the many hats that she wears, and especially proud to be apart of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Citrus College.

INGRID PRANIUK

Ingrid Praniuk has been teaching voice for over 13 years. Her wealth of vocal training and research includes working and training with voice mentors/teachers (Linda Minto-Corwin, Su Harmon and Christy Cook), speech pathologists, ENT (ear /nose/throat) specialists, vocal coaches, professors of vocal medicine. She has completed the Hans von Leden, MD Symposium on Voice Care Program, administered by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  She is a member of The Voice Foundation, a prestigious medical research foundation.
Her areas of expertise include improving and preserving the singing voice without changing the singer’s signature sound and vocal health. She teaches and coaches professional rock singers signed to record labels. Ingrid has taught music students in the California public schools for over 11 years as well as college students at Citrus Community College. Her monthly vocal column in ANGST magazine provides practical vocal advice that is medically-based. Ingrid is featured in the Music Connection 15th Annual Directory of Vocal Coaches. She sings across the music spectrum, from classical to rock. She has performed in several local rock bands as lead singer, songwriter, background vocalist and keyboardist. Ingrid has also performed classical and musical theater showcases at Covina Valley Playhouse, Cal Poly Pomona and Stageworks.