Mission Statement
Foothill Academy of Vocal Arts was founded in 2006 to develop musical potential in children and
youth, with an emphasis on musicianship, healthy vocal technique and the joy of creative
expression through choral singing. In the past decade, the mission has expanded to include an
intergenerational choir of adults and teens, Festival Chorus. Foothill Academy of Vocal Arts
(FAVA) is a non-profit organization which serves the community by promoting the art of choral
singing for children, teens and adults of the San Gabriel Valley.
Dianne Harmel, Founder & Director
Dianne Harmel, Founder and Director of Foothill Academy of Vocal Arts, has extensive
experience in working with voices of all ages, with a particular interest in vocal health and
freedom. In addition to her work with FAVA, she was on faculty at Azusa Pacific University for
over two decades an Adjunct Professor of Applied Voice. She is Past President of Music Teachers
Association of California, Pasadena Branch and has private students participating annually in
MTAC’s Certificate of Merit program and competitions. B.M. in Vocal Performance, University of
Southern California. M.A. in Music, emphasis Vocal Pedagogy, California State University, Los Angeles.
Keith Harmel
Keith Harmel, Festival Chorus Director, is highly regarded as a conductor for his sensitivity
to text and nuance. He has prepared and directed choirs for special events including a
commissioned premiere at a California Association of Professional Music Teachers conference,
and a multi-media concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He successfully led
FAVA’s Festival Chorus in a concert tour to Austria during Advent 2024. His education includes a
B.M. in Composition from Azusa Pacific University and an M.M. in Choral Conducting from Georgia
State University
Debbie Isenberg
Debbie Isenberg, FAVA’s principal accompanist has been with FAVA since our beginning in 2006. In addition to singing in and accompanying for FAVA choirs, she serves as Director of
Handbells at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, CA where she also sings in the Sanctuary
Choir. B.A. in Music, Lawrence University.