Directors and Staff

 

Deborah Mello

Founder/Conductor - Bel Canto and Concert Choirs

Founding Director of the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, Deborah Mello is the recipient of the Master Teacher Award from the New Jersey Music Educators Association, the Governor’s Award for Arts in Education, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Master Teacher Collaborative Award, sponsored by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. In May 2007, Deborah and her husband Joseph each received the Distinguished Music Educator Award from Yale University. Debbie has served as the Eastern Division and National Chair of the American Choral Directors Association National Committee for Children’s Choirs. Deborah has conducted regional and honor choruses in several states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, Maine and Kentucky. She has taught numerous workshops on elementary music education and choral singing with children in the United States, England, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In collaboration with composer, Jill Gallina, Debbie has written All American Sing-A-Long Songs and Songs Boys Like to Sing. Deborah is the Director of Choral Music at Randolph High School and the director of the Junior Choir at Christ Episcopal Church in Newton.

Jeff Colarusso

Conductor - Bella Voce

Jeff Colarusso has been the Director of Bella Voce since 2003. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2001 with a B.A. in Music Education, concentrating in vocal studies. Jeff has been a teacher in the Hardyston Township School District since 2002, where he teaches 1st – 8th grade general music and is the chorus director. Jeff has conducted the Sussex County Jr. High Honors Chorus and was recently selected to conduct the 2008 North Jersey Region I Honors Chorus. Jeff has served as a judge for the NJ Honors Choir as well as the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Division honors Choir. He also served as the choir director for Lafayette Federated Church. In addition to his teaching duties, Jeff is a professional singer. He has performed in many different venues including Montclair State University, the Continental Airlines Arena, Town Hall Theater in NYC, as well as a regular position at Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. He currently resides in Montague Township with his wife, Danielle, and their three sons, Ryan, Kevin, and Sean.

Linda Degroat

Accompanist - Concert Choir

Linda is a music educator and choral director at Long Pond School in Andover Township. She also teaches piano, accompanies her church choir, and serves as an organist at Lafayette Federated Church. She directed the Sussex County Jr. Honors Choir in 2004 and accompanied this group in 2006. Linda accompanied North Jersey Region Chorus in 2003 and will be serving as accompanist in 2008. She also has been musical director at various musical theater productions in Sussex County. Linda has enjoyed knowing and working with Deborah Mello for many years since they were fellow Music Education majors at Glassboro State College, now known as Rowan University.

Joan Lucas

Accompanist - Bella Voce

Joan Lucas, Vocal Music Teacher at Jefferson Township Middle School, has taught General and Vocal Music in grades Kindergarten through 8 for over nineteen years. Her current assignment followed positions in Kearny, Montague and Sparta. Joan holds a Level II Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Music Education founded by Doreen Rao. She received a BA in Music Education from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and a Master in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. A member of both ACDA and MENC, Joan managed the New Jersey Elementary Honor Choir Festival for over five years. She has accompanied and conducted for Regional and County choruses in New Jersey and was accompanist and director of the Bel Canto Choir of the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County for several years. A resident of Sparta for over twenty-five years, Joan has a son, Dave, serving in the US Navy and a daughter, Mary Ann, attending the University at Buffalo.

Janelle Heise

Accompanist - Bel Canto

Janelle is a music educator and choral director at Pequannock Valley Middle School, Pompton Plains, NJ. She also teaches private piano and is a trainer for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the area of elementary vocal music. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Keyboard Area Performance from DePauw University and a Master of Music Education degree with conducting concentration from Westminster Choir College. She has taught Musicianship at Suburban Community Music Center in Summit and at Albemarle, the summer program of the American Boychoir School. She resides in West Milford with her husband and two children.