CHRISTINE TAVARES-MOCHA

BIOGRAPHY

Christine Tavares-Mocha serves as the choral director at Valencia High School in Valencia, California and has for over 20 years. She directs 175 students in 5 internationally touring choirs including two vocal jazz ensembles. Under her direction the Valencia Vocal Jazz Ensemble, “2 n 4” has received over a dozen DownBeat Awards, including the 2023 Winner of "Top High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble." For multiple years, Valencia H.S. Vocal Jazz Ensemble has been selected as one of two high school ensembles in the nation to perform at The Monterey Jazz Festival and JEN (Jazz Education Network) Conference. In 2019, Two N' Four Opened at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2020 they were featured performers opening for New York Voices at the Western American Choral Directors Association Conference. In 2023 they were selected to perform at the National American Choral Directors Association Conference in Cincinnati, the first time a choir from the Hart School District was selected. 

Educationally, Christine is an MA graduate of Berklee School of Music, Boston with an emphasis in songwriting. Her original compositions for Vocal Jazz groups (Refugee, I'd Stop Time, and Me From You) can be found on kerrymarsh.net. Refugee  premiered at the ACDA Convention in 2022 by Minnesota's Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus.  During the years Christine was the Vocal Jazz/Contemporary A Cappella Representative for the Southern Calif. Vocal Association,  she founded the SCVA Vocal Jazz / Contemporary A Cappella Honor Choir. In 2018, Christine was honored to co-teach with Jennifer Barnes at UNT the vocal jazz teacher intensive on the importance of team building in a high school vocal jazz program (a subject she cares deeply about. In 2019 Christine was honored to direct the Missouri All State High School Vocal Jazz Choir. Nominated for a BRAVO award, awarded Valencia H.S. Teacher of the Year (2009, 2020) and selected as Santa Clarita's 40 Under 4O distinguished members, Christine also was the National Harmony A-cappella Sweepstakes Winner / Best Performer (2007) with Moira Smiley and Voco, touring internationally for 6 years on the Americana Folk circuit, and with the vocal jazz ensemble “Down for the Count.” With a deep love for jazz standards and jump swing, Christine has sung in multiple big bands including “The Viper Six” and has 20 years experience of singing and leading on the bandstand. She enjoys collaborating with arrangers and songwriters. Her newest album “Baby, it’s Good to Be Yours” (2018) features jazz influenced songs inspired by the old standards written by John Morell. Notable performances include singing back up for Ben Folds, Judy Collins, Kevin Mahogany, Michael Feinstein and being an alumni of the The Young Americans.  Christine is honored to teach public high school students and is filled with gratitude that she can teach music every day. Her six loves outside of music are her husband Scott, sons Jackson and Cole and her beloved poodle and labradoodles Jack, Ella, and Baxter!

--