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Christine Tavares-Mocha
EDUCATOR, SONGWRITER, COMMUNITY BUILDER & MUSICIAN
Email:
Welcome!
Christine Tavares-Mocha holds a two-decade legacy of steering Valencia High School's choirs to national and international renown. As the director of six touring ensembles, including the prestigious Advanced Chamber Choir and vocal jazz groups, she orchestrates performances at iconic venues globally. Since 2009, her choirs have been featured in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Abbey in London, St. Patrick's Cathedral in Ireland, and the Normandy American Cemetery, captivating audiences both in Europe and domestically at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Under Christine's guidance, Valencia's choirs have received first place at the Verdugo Hills A Cappella Competition eight times and earned the prestigious title of DownBeat Magazine's Best High School Vocal Jazz Large Ensemble multiple years including 2023. Her commitment to excellence and storytelling shines through her students' touring performances and collaborations with renowned artists (listed below). Holding a Master's from Berklee School of Music, Christine's compositions have been performed in over 50 high school and college institutions.
Dedicated to fostering global connections through music, Christine is an active member in the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the Jazz Education Network (JEN). Beyond academia, she shares her musical passion as the Contemporary Worship Director at Valencia United Methodist Church.
In sum, Christine Tavares-Mocha's profound impact on the choral landscape, coupled with her global network and commitment to musical excellence, positions her as an outstanding builder of programs and teams in the choral world. Her legacy can be found in the many students who have found success professionally in the performance world as leads on Broadway, winning Grammy Music Awards, touring on the opera and classical circuit and in the professional choral world as directors and educators.
NOTABLE CHORAL PERFORMANCES
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ACDA National Convention
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ACDA Western
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CMEA State Conventions
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JEN International Conferences
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St. Peter's Basilica in Rome
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St. Patrick's Cathedral in Ireland
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Chartres and Notre Dame Cathedrals in France
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Schönbrunn Palace in Austria
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Westminster Abbey in London
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London Olympics 2012
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American Cemetery in Normandy, France
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Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York
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the Pearl Harbor War Memorial in Hawaii
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the 9/11 Memorial in New York City
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the Walt Disney Concert Hall
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the Hollywood Bowl
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the Queen Mary
Mrs Mocha is currently booking for visiting clinics, and adjudication at all levels.
Performance Example - "Balleilakka"
Rehearsal Technique - "Fire"
Performance Example - "Afternoon on a Hill"
Performance Example - "Sleep"
Rehearsal Technique - "Hold On"
Performance of "Fire" (2 Weeks Later)
EXPERIENCE
2003-Present
VHS High School
Choral Director
As Choral Director at Valencia High School, I am responsible for leading a public high school program consisting of 150 students, separated into six touring ensembles: Treble Vocal Ensemble, Advanced Chamber Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Advanced Concert Choir, Mixed Touring Choir, and Show Choir. Our advanced Chamber Choirs have won the Verdugo Hills A Cappella Scholarship Competition Grand Prize nine times, and our Jazz program has earned twelve DownBeat Magazine Awards for Best High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. With Valencia Choir's enrollment of around 150 students each year, the Choral Program at Valencia High School is loved by the students, parents and administration.
2021-Present
Valencia United Methodist Church
Director of Contemporary Worship
Program music and lead the worship band 20 rotating members
Featured as soloist weekly, collaborating with the Director of Music to program / direct and provide music for weekly contemporary worship services.
Schedule vocalists and musicians, provide charts / lead sheets / sound samples, and distribute through the planning center.
2011-2017
Director of Music and Worship
Santa Clarita United Methodist Church
Program included - Adult Chancel Choir, High School Gospel Choir, and Directing the Christmas Eve / Easter Orchestra, Music Appreciation Chamber Orchestra, and Choir Cantata Performances
Oversees the hand-bell choirs, children's choirs, and high school “Messengers” choir.
EDUCATION
2021-2023
Master of Arts in Songwriting
Berklee School of Music
As a graduate student of Berklee School of Music, I specialized in Songwriting, writing, and producing ninety-seven original pieces. Several of those have transitioned into performance pieces that are now being performed by over 50 schools internationally. Pursuing this graduate work additionally gave me the foundation for the Music Technology Curriculum I co-developed for the Hart District Career and College Readiness Technology Program.
1997-2001
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
As an undergraduate student at Cal Poly SLO, I learned an immeasurable amount about Vocal performance, Classical, Jazz, Improvisation, and World Music. I also learned the core mechanics of building a choral program, empowering students to not only lead but also to be strong as a cohesive team. I have since had the pleasure of having several of my own students continue on in their music education with my alma mater, only to become music educators later themselves.
SKILLS
Program Recruiting - Expert
Choral Direction All Genres - Expert
Curriculum Development - Advanced
International Tour Planning - Expert
Choral Festival Planning - Expert
Team / Program Building - Expert
EXPERTISE
Choral Direction
As a choral director, I have developed innovative teaching methods that have transformed music programs and inspired countless students to pursue music careers. I specialize in directing large choirs and have collaborated / had my students work with renowned artists such as Jason Max Ferdinand, Jace Saplan, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights), Rollo Dilworth, Eric Whitacre, Anton Armstrong, Rosephanye Powell, Gretchen Parlato, Roger Treece, Lionel Loueke, Phil Mattson, Jeremy Fox, Kerry Marsh and many others.
Music Education
As a music educator, I have developed comprehensive music curriculum for all grade levels and have taught music theory, history, and performance. I have also acquired a CTE Certification to teach Music Industry and technology as a career path and co-authored the curriculum adopted by the William S Hart School District. I love teaching music and seeing students's eyes light up when they learn something new. I am a fierce believer in building a strong community within my choral program, fostering and creating opportunities for students to conduct, direct, arrange for our choirs and overall seeing students step up to be leaders and educators alike.
Songwriting / Arranging
As a Songwriter, I enjoy writing in all genres and arranging for choirs. It is always an incredible experience to hear a song I've written sung by others. Currently, more than fifty schools internationally have chosen my pieces to perform and sing in graduations, competitions, and festivals. It is such a pleasure to hear other schools, community choirs, and professional groups sing my arrangements Some of my arrangements can be found at kerrymarsh.com or by emailing me directly.
Popular Arrangements:
Refugee, SSA
Refugee, SATB
Me From You, SATB
I'd Stop Time, SATB
Away, SATB
I Believe, SATB
Big Dreams, SA
May You Be Well, SATB
Audience of One, SATB
What's Mine, SSA