Musician, Educator, Arranger, Songwriter

I especially love your singing when its low - sort of your secret weapon. -Ben Folds

Christine Tavares-Mocha is a Los Angeles–based songwriter, composer, vocalist, educator, and clinician whose original choral and vocal music is performed by ensembles throughout the United States and abroad. Her compositions are available through her website, ChristineMocha.com, as well as through the publishing catalog of Kerry Marsh. To date, more than 50 universities, colleges, and high schools across the United States and internationally have performed her original works, which are recognized for their rich vocal textures, contemporary harmonic language, and heartfelt storytelling.

Christine holds a Master of Arts in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music and was recently selected for study in the International Choral Composers Institute working with internationally recognized faculty of composers. Drawing from her extensive background in jazz, contemporary a cappella, choral music, and singer-songwriter traditions, she creates music that resonates with singers and audiences alike.

For the past 20 years, Christine has served as Director of Choral Activities at Valencia High School in Valencia, California, where she leads more than 150 students in six award-winning ensembles, including two vocal jazz groups and a thriving program of vocal jazz soloists. Under her direction, Valencia's premier vocal jazz ensemble, 2 N' 4, has earned numerous DownBeat Student Music Awards, including Outstanding High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble (2024), Best Arrangement (2026), and Outstanding Small Vocal Ensemble (2026). Her students have gone on to successful careers as professional performers, music directors, educators, Broadway artists, Grammy-winning musicians, and jazz vocalists.

Valencia High School's vocal jazz ensembles have been selected multiple times as one of only two high school groups in the nation to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the ACDA National Conference, and the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference. Her students have performed at renowned venues throughout the world, including Westminster Abbey, St. Peter's Basilica, Notre-Dame Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the Normandy American Memorial, as well as appearances at the Hollywood Bowl and ACDA National Conferences.

A respected educator, clinician, and adjudicator, Christine presents workshops and adjudicates festivals throughout the United States. Recent engagements include serving as adjudicator, clinician, and guest lecturer at the University of Northern Colorado Greeley Jazz Festival, where she worked with more than twenty ensembles, including the university's acclaimed vocal jazz ensemble. She was selected as the Missouri ACDA All-State High School Vocal Jazz Director in 2019 and served for 15 years as Vocal Jazz Representative for the Southern California Vocal Association, where she founded the SCVA Vocal Jazz and Contemporary A Cappella Honor Choir in 2018. In 2018, she was honored to co-teach alongside Jennifer Barnes at the University of North Texas Vocal Jazz Teacher Intensive, presenting on the importance of team-building within a high school vocal jazz program.

Christine's contributions to music education have earned her numerous honors, including receiving twice Teacher of the Year recognition, a BRAVO Award nomination, and selection as one of Santa Clarita's distinguished 40 Under Forty honorees.

As a performer, Christine was the National Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Champion and recipient of the Best Performer Award in 2007 with Moira Smiley & VOCO, touring internationally for six years. She has also performed with the vocal jazz ensemble Down for the Count, appeared with numerous big bands including The Viper Six, and spent two years as an Artist-in-Residence at The Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney. Her recording project, Good to Be Yours: The John Morell Songbook, has been featured on streaming platforms and in multiple Hallmark Channel films. Performance highlights include appearances alongside Ben Folds, Judy Collins, Kevin Mahogany, and Michael Feinstein. She is also a proud alumna of The Young Americans.

Whether composing, teaching, performing, or mentoring, Christine is passionate about helping singers discover their unique artistic voice and fostering meaningful musical experiences for performers of all ages. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to share music every day and to see her compositions and students make an impact throughout the world.