Dianne Harmel, founder and music director of Foothill Academy of Vocal Arts (FAVA), has a passion for educating students in healthy voice technique, musicianship and in the joy of choral singing. A member of the Pasadena Branch of Music Teachers Association of California since 2014, Mrs. Harmel has developed a new-found appreciation of the benefits of the MTAC Certificate of Merit curriculum in developing the musical and vocal abilities of young singers. She is excited for the potential for personal growth that the curriculum will bring to students in the FAVA voice classes.

At Azusa Pacific University, Mrs. Harmel has taught voice for nearly two decades as an Adjunct Professor of Applied Voice where she continues to teach group and private voice lessons. In recent years she has also joined the music staff at Life Pacific College where she teaches voice and directs the College Choir. Additionally she has an active private voice studio in Monrovia teaching students of all ages. She is an accomplished mezzo-soprano soloist with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Southern California and a Master of Arts in Music, Vocal Pedagogy from California State University, Los Angeles.