Mr. Taione Martinez
Executive Artistic Director (2008-)
Taione Martinez began his tenure with the Chorus in January 2008. A native of Rochester, NY, Mr. Martinez is an educator, conductor and organist. He earned his BA from Hampton University with concentrations in both choral and organ performance. He later returned to Rochester to study organ at the Eastman School. A strong promoter of African-American sacred and classical music, Mr. Martinez has performed nationally both as a solo artist and conductor. As Director of Choral Programs at the School of the Arts in upstate New York, he was instrumental in creating the Heritage Singers, a nationally recognized 25-voice a capella vocal ensemble dedicated to promoting and preserving the African-American Spiritual. As a result of their success, the Heritage Singers have been invited to perform in New York state and abroad. In 2007 Mr. Martinez was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Rochester Festival Singers. He is fluent in both Spanish and Latin. (photo Nancy Hodges)
Sherri Anderson
Interim Administrative Director
Sherri Anderson received her Bachelors of Music from Wheaton College, her Masters in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College and completed additional PhD studies in Music Education at Temple University studying choral conducting with Alan Harler and string pedagogy with Helen Kwalwasser. Ms. Anderson is the Director of Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra of Princeton, Executive Director of Blue Mountain Chamber Music Festival and Director of Children's Music at Snyder Avenue Congregational Church in South Philadelphia. She also maintains a private teaching studio and is on the string faculty of the Lawrenceville School and Trenton Community Music School.
Desiree Melegrito
Director of the Training Choir (2nd-5th grade)
Desiree Melegrito holds a BM from Ithaca College and a Masters in Music Education and Piano Performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Formerly on the faculty at Westminster Conservatory, she currently teaches choral and general music at Chapin School in Princeton.
Constance W. Hurtt
Director of the Training Choir (2nd-5th grade)
Constance Watson Hurtt, currently a vocal music teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Trenton, NJ, holds a B.A. in Music Education from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. and a Masters in Special Education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Mrs. Hurtt was a Counselor and Music Instructor for Mercer Street Friends Center in Trenton and, in 1985, became Director of the Youth Choir at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ until 2005. Her Honors include 1995 Teacher of the Year at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School and 2001 Woman of the Year at Shiloh Baptist Church.
Gloria Bethea
Choir Manager
Gloria Bethea, a founding member of the TCC Advisory Board, serves as Choir Manager. Believing that TCC provides opportunities for children and youth to develop self-discipline, collaborative skills and appreciation of cultural diversity, she is also the mother of TCC alumni and current choristers. A Nurse Clinician, with undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, she retired from nursing to rear her children with her husband, Alex. Mrs. Bethea also serves as parent advisor to the board of MentorPower.
Jo-Ann Rubay Sciarrotta
Accompanist, Young People's Chorus, Training and Intermediate Choirs
Jo-Ann Rubay Sciarrotta is an accomplished pianist, vocal accompanist, music director and award winning teacher. She holds an undergraduate degree and Supervisory Certification in Music Education from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Boston University. Her post-graduate studies continued in Europe and at Westminster Choir College. Jo-Ann currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Art, Media and Music of The College of New Jersey and maintains a busy performance schedule.
Emily Sensenbach-Gopal
Instructor of Music Appreciation/Theory
Emily Sensenbach-Gopal received her MM in sacred music from Westminster Choir College of Rider University in 2006 and holds an MS from Cornell University and a BA from Hamilton College. She has served as organist-choir director at a number of churches, and currently works at St. Paul's (UCC) Church in Milltown, NJ, and as accompanist to the Rutgers Queens Chorale.
John Brandon
Accompanist
John Brandon is a native of Ooltewah Tennessee. Though only a senior at Westminster Choir College, Mr. Brandon enjoys a varied career as a teacher, accompanist, church musician, and singer. He began with the Trenton Children's Chorus as a vocal coach and accompanist in 2007. After years of piano study, Mr. Brandon decided to direct his focus toward studying the voice. His credits on the opera stage have included Marco in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Toante in Handel's Oreste and Simeon in Debussy's L'enfant Prodigue with the Westminster Opera Theater conducted by Daniel Beckwith. Mr. Brandon also played the role of the Old Shepard in the American premiere of Troy Herion's Il Racconto d'Inverno with International Opera Theater. John looks forward to continuing his work with this great choir.
Maureen Llort
Administrator (1997-2006)
The Page & Otto Marx, Jr. foundation Scholarship Fund
The Don Dickason College Support Fund
The Ruth Wyatt Memorial Fund
Sharing the belief that music education is every child's birthright, Maureen Llort and Ruth Wyatt served together as Administrative Directors of the Trenton Children's Chorus from 1997-2006 and were founding members of the TCC Advisory Board. In 2003 they received the Governor's Volunteer Award in the Arts for their work with the Trenton Children's Chorus. Following a courageous battle with brain cancer, Ruth Wyatt died in April 2007. Maureen Llort now administers three funds which enable the TCC to provide scholarships to its members for a variety of arts activities and higher education. Memorial contributions in memory of Ruth Wyatt, and/or long time volunteer, Don Dickason, may be made to the Trenton Children's Chorus, Princeton Outreach Projects, Inc., 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542.
Sue Ellen Page
Founding Director (1989-2004)
Since 1982, Sue Ellen Page has directed the Music Ministry for Children and Youth at Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton. She holds two degrees from Westminster Choir College at Rider University. Composer, arranger and author, in 1989 she received the Alumni Merit Award for "distinguished achievement in the field of children's music." She is a 2005 recipient of the Governor's Award for Volunteerism in the Arts, honoring her works with the Trenton Children's Chorus
Victor Shen
Artistic Director (2004-2007)
Dr. Shen is a former member of the music faculty at Tung Hai University, Music Director of the National Taiwan University Chorus in Taipei, host of a weekly radio program in Taiwan that showcased choral music and the former conductor of Bel Canto Opera Chorus, NYC. He is founding director and conductor of several community choirs and has taught in school, church and university settings. Dr. Shen holds advanced degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Maryland.
BJ Katen-Narvell
Interim Administrative Director (2006-2007)
B.J. Katen-Narvell holds an MBA from the Wharton School, an MA in Christian Spirituality from The General Theological Seminary and an AB from Princeton University. Most recently she served as the Project Coordinator for Lilly Endowment's Sabbath Renewal Project at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also brings with her more than a decade's experience in marketing and brand management for General Foods Corporation. All three of BJ's daughters are graduates of the Covenant Singers division of the Trenton Children's Chorus.