A former professor of musical theater at California State University, Fullerton, Mitch Hanlon has a professional history in music that dates to the 1970s. Beyond training students and performing widely on stage as a conductor, pianist and singer, he founded the Mitch Hanlon Singers and established a piano program at the Orange County School of the Arts. He also was the musical director for various productions and served the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in a various capacities for 16 seasons including being Assistant Conductor. A member of the Musical Theater Educators’ Alliance and a union musician with Local 2 in Los Angeles, he continues to work as a freelance musician in Orange County.
Mitch Hanlon also gives back to his community as a member of the local Elks club and the First Christian Church. His work with the Elks includes securing funds for a homeless veterans project and youth literacy programs as the grant writing chair and assisting with Bingo and other events. He has directed music programming and played organ for the First Christian Church for the past 30 years.