35 Years of Youth Choir Excellence An Ongoing Capital City Legacy
TCC kicked off its 2024–25 season by celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a performance at the Boys & Girls Club of Trenton as part of their annual Hispanic Heritage Festival. Later in the fall, our Intermediate and Concert Choir students were once again invited to participate in the Bent but Not Broken Festival in Wilmington, DE — a conference dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the contributions of Black vocal artists, composers, and musicians across a wide range of genres. Our students proudly represented TCC as members of two honor choirs led by Cody Raven Morris of Portland State University and Vinroy D. Brown, Jr. of Westminster Choir College, culminating in an inspiring performance featuring nearly 200 singers. In December, our choirs ushered in the holiday season with our Annual Winter Concert and meaningful collaborations with local arts organizations. The Choral Readiness and Training Choirs partnered with Music for the Very Young and Passage Theatre to present A Passage-Harmony Holiday. This family-centered event featured performances by our choristers, a Grinch-inspired play, and a holiday-themed sing-along complete with a live band and egg shakers for all. The Chorale, our select high school ensemble, joined Voices Chorale NJ to present Sing Out My Soul, a holiday concert highlighted by a stirring performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria. In March, our students had the special privilege of making music with the visiting South African singing group Thula Sizwe during their United States tour. Through song and personal stories of resilience, we experienced firsthand the beauty of South African music rooted in the richness of Zulu culture. Our choristers gained a deeper appreciation for cultures beyond their own while learning powerful new repertoire. Over the summer, TCC proudly sent 11th grader Aury Vasquez to participate in the Pro Musica International Choral Festival, a premier tuition-free, weeklong summer program for high school singers held at the University at Albany in Albany, NY. The 2025 festival featured intensive rehearsals, performances, world premieres, and clinics with renowned artists. We were also excited to launch a weeklong Summer Vocal Camp in partnership with REX Arts and Passage Theatre. This full-day camp, held at Mill Hill Playhouse, gave students the opportunity to sing in ensemble while preparing selections from The Lion King and Wicked. Campers concluded the week with a vibrant singing-and-dancing showcase for family and friends. At the heart of our music-making is our connection to one another — strengthened through cherished community traditions such as our annual holiday sing-along, Cookies and Carols; our student-led Black History Month program and dinner, Soul Food and Song; and our End-of-Year Chorister Recognition and Potluck celebration.
Desiree Melegrito Interim Artistic Director and Intermediate Choir Director
Desiree Melegrito has over 20 years experience as a general and choral music specialist, in both public and independent school settings. She holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education and piano performance from Ithaca College and
Westminster Choir College, respectively, and draws from
Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, and Music Learning Theory principles in her teaching practice. Desiree has been a long-time teaching artist with the Trenton Children’s Chorus, where she has enjoyed conducting choristers from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She is also a member of the Performing Arts Faculty at the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, PA.
CAPITAL HARMONY WORKS | ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25
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