Robert MacNeil, Tenor Robert MacNeil has been praised by the Los Angeles Times for possessing a voice that is “clarion and clear.” That statement is even more poignant when you consider where he “found his voice.” Here's the story in his words: “I never sang in my youth, growing up in a small town in the central valley of California . I was a history major in college ( Chapman University ) and had to take a required fine arts class. I signed up for a class on George Gershwin and at the end of the semester, each student had to sing one song. I sang my song and the university's choir director happened to be at the presentation. He offered me a scholarship on the spot – he actually matched and surpassed the history department award. The next year, faculty members suggested that I change majors to voice. Little did I know what would happen. “From there, I went to USC and then to the National Finals of the Metropolitan Opera, to Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Opera and the Los Angeles Opera.” MacNeil has performed as a soloist with orchestras and opera companies in Asia, Australia and Europe in addition to this country.