Kristina Keener has been a private music teacher, specializing in piano, guitar, and school band instruments, and vocal coach for over ten years.  Her students have starred in countless musical productions, won regional and national competitions, including the Spotlight Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and America's Got Talent, and they have participated in Regional and All-State Choirs. Many of her students have gone on to pursue professional careers in the entertainment industry.  At West Covina High School she taught choir, guitar, and AP Music Theory for five years, garnering many awards with her students and touring throughout the United States and Europe. Additionally she has worked as a musical director on over 10 shows, conducting pit orchestras for such productions as Beauty and the Beast, Oliver!, and Peter Pan.

She graduated summa cum laude with honors from Northern Arizona University with two bachelor’s degrees: one in Opera Performance and another in Music Education. She is a member of Southern California Vocal Association and the Classical Singer’s Association. Along with being a member of the StageARTS Repertory, the resident performers at the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, where she also serves as the secretary on the Artistic Board. She is an active volunteer in the community and has received many awards for outstanding citizenship including the YWCA "Woman of Excellence Award" and the West Covina High School "Fine Arts Faculty Member of the Year".

As a performer, she has starred in two shows at CCPA. She recently played Kate/Lilli Vanessi in "Kiss Me Kate" and Brenda in "Smokey Joe's Cafe". Some of her other favorite past roles include Sister Mary Amnesia in "Nunsense", Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls", and Dorabella in Mozart's opera "Cosi Fan Tutte". Last year she recorded a self-titled solo album and can be heard on two film soundtracks. However, her favorite is still singing jazz with a big band. She is currently pursuing a career as a full-time actress and was recently cast in a television show pilot.

To hear more of her music go to www.myspace.com/kristinakeenerrocks.

Jill Gerber, M.A. is thrilled to be an instructor for the Covina Center for the Performing Arts inaugural session of the Young Performers Institute.

She has been involved in the theatre for over 40 years, and in local Southern California theatre as a performer, director, choreographer, and producer for 25 years Most recently., she directed the Covina Center for the Performing Arts critically acclaimed production of “The Odd Couple” which played to sold out houses and set box office records.

As a performer Ms. Gerber has been seen on stages throughout Los Angeles, garnering accolades and acclaim in such roles as Sally Durant in Follies, Lizzy Curry in The Rainmaker, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, Marian Paroo in The Music Man, Ado Annie in Oklahoma, Adelaide in Guys & Dolls and a featured soloist in numerous concerts, benefits and revues.

For the past 6 years, she has been teaching Performing Arts at Northview High School in Covina where she has also been responsible for over 20 successful productions.
Jill is a certified master yoga instructor, and serves on the Artistic Board of StageARTS Repertory, the resident performing group of the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, as an Associate Artistic Director.

Is pleased to be in his 8th year with the Covina Theatre Group. He made his debut at the Covina Valley Playhouse as a dancer in “The Music Man” in 1999 following his high school graduation. That was the last time he asked to dance, but went on to produce half a dozen productions, create the lighting design for more than that, star in over 12 productions, bring in a production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged” that he produced at numerous venues throughout Los Angeles and San Diego, direct and produce the Covina Valley Playhouse’s Young Actor’s Workshop, sit on the Artistic Board and most importantly, make some wonderful, lifelong friends and mentors.

At the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, Miller is the Education Director overseeing the new Young Performers Institute, the Champion Fine Arts Academy and the Summer Musical Program, along with the extensive programs offered to the community and local public school districts.

Working with young performers Miller has taught private acting, created and produced original family productions, and directed a dozen productions including such favorites as Little Shop of Horror’s, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Guy’s and Dolls, and The Music Man.

Aside from his work with Covina, Miller has worked, either as an actor or director at the Whittier Centre Theatre (WTC Best Actor Award 2004), La Habra Depot, Sierra Madre Playhouse, and the Star Theatre in Oceanside and directed the West Coast Premiere’s of Elegies: A Song Cycle and With Their Eyes: The View From A High School at Ground Zero.

During the day Miller is a Theatre Arts teacher and a performing arts consultant for public schools. This summer he will direct Seussical: The Musical for StageARTS Repertory, the resident performing group of the Covina Center for the Performing Arts, produce an additional production of Seussical: The Musical at CCPA as part of the Young Performers Institute/Summer Musical Theatre Project and direct the regional premiere of Neil Simon’s Rose’s Dilemma at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.