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NJ Elementary and Junior High All-State Choir Festival
Our Clinicians
Magdalena Delgado
Elementary Treble Choir
Choral conductor, singer, and music educator from the Dominican Republic, Magdalena Delgado currently serves as the conductor of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Choir as well as an In-School Choir. Prior to her move to Chicago, Magdalena served as Artistic Director of the children and youth choir, Voces del Mar, based in Veracruz, Mexico, and was the Founder and Artistic Director of Audimus, a professional chamber ensemble based in Xalapa, Mexico. While in Mexico, she also worked as an adjunct faculty member on the choral and voice faculties of Instituto Superior de Música Esperanza Azteca and the Centro de Estudios de Jazz of the Universidad Veracruzana (JazzUV), where she taught voice and voice techniques classes, courses in choral literature, and conducted the preparatory vocal jazz ensemble. In 2014, Magdalena earned her Master of Music in Choral Conducting, with distinction, from Westminster Choir College, where she studied with Drs. Joe Miller, James Jordan, and Amanda Quist. During her master’s studies, she served as Assistant Conductor of the Westminster Chapel Choir, was an integral member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, and served as a section leader for the world-renowned Westminster Choir. While at Westminster, she performed on tours throughout the U.S., alongside some of the greatest orchestras in the world under the direction of conductors of the highest stature. Prior to her master’s studies, Magdalena studied vocal performance at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and has served as a guest conductor for choirs of all ages throughout the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Magdalena received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, where she graduated magna cum laude. As a native of Santo Domingo, Magdalena began her musical study at age five, where she studied piano, recorder, and most importantly, was a member of the children’s choir at her area music school, which served as her initial inspiration for her career path. Magdalena’s unique background and experiences inspire Uniting Voices Chicago singers.
Jason Tramm
SATB Choir
Maestro Tramm currently holds the following musical positions: Artistic Director/Principal Conductor, MidAtlantic Artistic Productions (with whom he made his Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium) debut in 2015). Executive Director, Light Opera of New Jersey, Music Director, Taghkanic Chorale, Music Director, Putnam Chorale, and is the newly named General and Artistic Director of the New Rochelle Opera. He served as Artistic Director of the New Jersey State Opera from 2008 to 2012, where he collaborated with some of the finest voices in opera, including Samuel Ramey, Vladimir Galouzine, Angela Brown, Gregg Baker, and Paul Plishka. His 2009 HDTV broadcast with PBS affiliate NJN of "Verdi Requiem: Live from Ocean Grove," garnered an Emmy Award nomination. The busy maestro is entering his 20th season as Director of Music, in Residence, of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association in the summer months, where he leads the choral, orchestral, and oratorio performances in the historic 6,500-seat Great Auditorium. In addition to the Ocean Grove Choir Festival, a beloved event in its 64th year and attended by thousands, he has appeared on two National Public Radio broadcasts with organ virtuoso Gordon Turk and symphonic orchestra. An accomplished educator, he serves as an Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Seton Hall University, where he leads the University Chorus, Chamber Choir, Orchestra, and conducting. In 2017, Seton Hall University Awarded him the University Faculty Teacher of the Year. Educating and mentoring the next generation of musicians has always been a central part of Jason Tramm's career. He is also actively sought as a clinician and regularly presents lectures on a wide variety of musical topics. Dr. Tramm holds degrees in music from the Crane School, the Hartt School, and a DMA in Conducting from Rutgers University, where he was the recipient of their prestigious Presidential Fellowship. In 2003, he joined the ranks of Metropolitan Opera Stars Renee Fleming and Stephanie Blythe when he was honored with the Rising Star Award from the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association. A sought-after guest conductor, he has led symphonic and operatic performances in Italy, Romania, Hungary, and Albania. Engagements for the 24/25 season include Teatro Lirico D'Europa (Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey), White Rose Classcial Concerts (York, PA), The Washington Opera Society (Washington D.C.), the Summer Stars Classical Concert Series (Ocean Grove, NJ) and the New Voice Festival (Rome, Italy). Jason and his son Quinton (Videographer/Producer) founded Music Matters with Jason Tramm, a musical culture podcast, which has over 300,000 views on YouTube. In two years since its founding, it has featured over 300 interviews with distinguished artists and innovators from a multitude of genres and focuses on artistic creativity and self-discovery during the most challenging times.
Chris Henke
Christopher Henke, a Grammy-nominated music educator, has been an educator for 23 years in both Ohio and New Jersey. After 10 years with Springfield Local Schools in Holland, Ohio, rebuilding a vocal music program as Director of Choirs for grades 7 - 12, Mr. Henke moved to New Jersey and, after a brief tenure teaching elementary band and orchestra in Belleville, NJ, has spent the last 13 years teaching vocal music at Kittatinny Regional High School in Newton, NJ. Mr. Henke is in demand as a collaborative pianist, accompanist, guest conductor, and clinician in both northern and central NJ. Mr. Henke has served as the guest conductor for the NJSMA Region 1 HS SATB Choir (2019), the CJMEA Jr. High SATB Honor Choir (2020), as accompanist for the Sussex County HS Honors Choir (2021), collaborative pianist for the Morris Area Honor Choir (2022), and as the guest conductor for the Sussex County Music Educators in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022. As an active member of NAfME, NJSMA and of the ACDA locally, regionally, and at the national level, Mr. Henke’s students have earned positions in various honors ensembles at the Local, State, Regional and National level on a yearly basis throughout his tenure. Along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education focusing on Choral Conducting and Performance from Wittenberg University and various other graduate work in education, Mr. Henke has earned an M.S.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (2007) and Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development (2017) from Walden University. Mr. Henke is also a 20+ year member of the VoiceCare Network and has also studied choral conducting and performance with his mentor Dr. Donald Busarow, as well as participating in conducting intensives with Dr. Weston Noble, and Dr. Axel Theimer. Beyond his continued work as a choral music educator, Mr. Henke is a published composer/arranger with works published by both Morningstar Music and Augsburg Fortress. In 2015, Mr. Henke had an SATB arrangement of “New York, New York” from On The Town approved for performance by the Leonard Bernstein Family Trust. Additionally, Mr. Henke regularly edits, arranges, and composes new music for the vocal ensembles at Kittatinny Regional HS.