Meet Joseph Mello
Musical Director & Conductor
A Legacy of Choral Excellence
Joseph Mello was the choral director at Kittatinny Regional High School in Newton, New Jersey for thirty-six years, retiring from public school teaching in June, 2011. He is a graduate of Glassboro State College where he studied conducting with Professor Clarence W. Miller. He furthered his conducting studies with Dr. Michael Mendoza and Dr. Doreen Rao. His choirs have performed widely on the east coast from Florida to Canada, in California, and were featured on the NBC Today Show.
In 1985, Mr. Mello was selected to receive the New Jersey Governor's Recognition Award and was also named the 1986 Kittatinny Regional High School Teacher of the Year. In 1986-87 he was named the Sussex County (NJ) Teacher of the Year. In 1990, he was the recipient of the Governor's Award for Arts in Education Distinguished Leadership Award. He was awarded the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award by the Yale University School of Music at their International Symposium on Music Education in the Public Schools in May, 2007. In 2009, Mr. Mello was named New Jersey's Master Music Teacher. He also received a New Jersey Governor's Award for Arts in Education as a Master Music Teacher in 2010.
Mr. Mello serves as the Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church in Newton, a position he has held since January, 1979. He was appointed the conductor of the Water Gap Singers in Warren County beginning September 2014.
Repertoire and Programming
Mr. Mello's programming reflects his deep knowledge of choral literature and his commitment to presenting works that challenge both performers and audiences. His concerts typically feature a thoughtful mix of well-known masterworks and lesser-known gems, always unified by themes that create meaningful musical experiences.
His repertoire choices demonstrate both artistic vision and practical understanding of what will help The Water Gap Singers continue to grow as an ensemble.
Community Impact
Beyond his work with The Water Gap Singers, Joseph Mello is committed to enriching the cultural life of northwestern New Jersey. He believes that community choruses play a vital role in bringing people together and making classical music accessible to broader audiences.
His leadership has helped establish The Water Gap Singers as an important cultural resource in the region, presenting concerts that contribute to the vibrant arts community of the Delaware Water Gap area.