Local choir director conducts at consecration

NEWTON — Deborah Mello, Children’s Choir Director at Christ Church Newton, was honored to conduct a choir comprised of more than 70 children from across northern New Jersey at the recent consecration of the Right Reverend Carlye J. Hughes as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Hughes is the first female and the first African American to hold the position in the diocese. The historic event was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.
Mello, Founder and Artistic Director of the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County and an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, Cali School of Music, has spent her career as a music educator working with children and teens. The Children’s Chorus of Sussex County has served boys and girls from Northern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. Mello will be celebrating her 40th anniversary as the Children’s Choir Director at Christ Church Newton next year.
“It was very exciting that Bishop Carlye J. Hughes requested a children's choir to sing during her consecration service,” commented Mello. “The addition of the children's voices was a beautiful component of this historic occasion. I was honored to be asked to lead this choir comprised of children from many churches in our Diocese.”
For information about the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, visit www.ccscsings.org. Information about Christ Church Newton is located at www.christchurchnewton.org.