Musician, Educator, Arranger, Songwriter

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

Christine Tavares-Mocha is a LA based well known vocalist and performer throughout Los Angeles and the greater LA Area. She serves as the choral director at Valencia High School in Valencia, California and has for the last 20 years. She directs 155 students in 6 internationally touring choirs including two vocal jazz ensembles and vocal jazz soloists. Under her direction the Valencia Vocal Jazz Ensemble, “2 n 4” has received over a dozen DownBeat Awards, including the 2024 Winner of "Top High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble."  Also in 2024 Four of her students received outstanding solo performances awards. Many of her students are now touring professionally as performers, vocalists, music directors.

Past students include Spotlight Award Winners, College and high school Vocal Jazz directors, Grammy Music Winners and Broadway and jazz artists

 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, ACDA National, and JEN (Jazz Education Network) Conferences.

Educationally, Christine clinics and adjudicates throughout the US. This year, Christine was an adjudicator, clinician, and guest session lecturer at the UNC Greeley Vocal Jazz Festival and adjudicated and clinic'ed over 20 different ensembles, including adjudicating and clinicing on stage at the festival the UNC Greeley Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Christine was also the ACDA Missouri All State H.S. Vocal Jazz Director (2019), and enjoys clinicing and adjudicating festivals throughout America. Christine served for 15 years as the Vocal Jazz Representative for the Southern Calif. Vocal Association, where she founded the SCVA Vocal Jazz / Contemporary A Cappella Honor Choir in 2018. She is a sought after adjudicator and clinician in jazz voice and just recently adjudicated the Greeley UNC In 2018 she 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.) Nominated for a BRAVO award, awarded Teacher of the Year and selected as Santa Clarita's 40 Under 4O distinguished members. Her students have opened at The Hollywood Bowl, ACDA Nationals (2023) and have performed  throughout the world in been featured in Westminster Abbey, St. Peter's Basilica, Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, The France, Normandy American Memorial and other venues.

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.” 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 including two year artist in residence gig at The Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disneyland. She enjoys collaborating with arrangers and songwriters. Her newest album “Good to Be Yours”   - The John Morell Songbook, can be heard on iTunes or in multiple romantic Hallmark Movies on the Hallmark Channel. 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 four loves outside of her music are her husband Scott, sons Jackson, and Cole and her beloved poodle and labradoodle Jack and Baxter!