Connie Galli: VOCAL JUDGE, Middle School Division
Connie served as choral director and Visual and Performing Arts Department coordinator at Shepherd Hill Regional High School from 1982 until she retired in June of 2017. During her tenure at Shepherd Hill, Connie designed and implemented a diverse and inclusive music curriculum based on the premise that music should be available and accessible to all students. She was instrumental in bringing show choir to Central Massachusetts, founding the nationally recognized group Fantasy, known for their innovative programming and excellence in performance.
Connie continues to be involved in the show choir community as a sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and accompanist. After retiring from Shepherd Hill, Connie joined the faculty at Anna Maria College where she filled multiple roles as Chorus Director, adjunct instructor for Ear Training and Music Technology, and supervising teacher for music education students. She is also choir director at Saint Louis Church in Webster, a position she has held since 1978, and director of Rock Voices of Auburn, an adult community choir focused on healing ourselves and others through music. However, the “job” that brings her the most joy is spending time with her grandchildren, Charlotte and Jackson.
____________________________________________________________________
Christopher Landis: VOCAL JUDGE, High School Division
Christopher has been an adjudicator and clinician for various festivals and ensembles throughout the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. His ensembles are often recognized with Platinum, Gold, Grand Champion, and Best Vocals awards. Christopher has been a guest conductor for the South Eastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association (SEMSBA) middle school honor choir- representing the top middle school vocalists from the South Shore area of Massachusetts. He has also been an adjudicator for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Southeastern District (SEMMEA) Junior and Senior Auditions.
Christopher focuses on teaching adolescent voices with an emphasis in vocal physiology. He encourages proper vocal health at all age-levels, and believes that an understanding of one’s instrument promotes strong musicianship
Christopher has performed with the prestigious Baltimore Opera Company, as well as numerous community and regional theaters. He has performed such favorite roles as: Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Malcolm in The Full Monty. As a musical director, Christopher has directed such musicals as: The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Urinetown.
Christopher resides in Pembroke, MA with his husband, Joe, and their ‘floral arrangement’ of dogs (Daisy and Violet) and cats, (Sage and Lily). He is excited to be returning to NESCS, and wishes all choirs a successful performance. It has been a long time coming … go get em’!
______________________________________________________________________
Susan K. Chebookjian: VISUAL JUDGE, Middle and High School Divisions
Susan Chebookjian was born and raised in Waltham MA and began performing at an early age.
Her extensive career, spanning over 35 years, encompasses a diverse array of roles as a director and choreographer. An IRNE award recipient and EMACT and BroadwayWorld Boston nominee, Susan has enjoyed close collaborations with several nationally recognized Broadway choreographers. Her work includes competition pieces for IMTA in both LA and NYC, corporate entertainment and branding solutions, educational initiatives, and a variety of work at regional theaters and dance studios. Susan has had a long tenure directing and choreographing at Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston and is the co-founder of their Youth Program and the Artistic Director for Waltham’s Dancing with the Stars which benefits Waltham Senior Citizens. Susan’s other choreographic experiences include North Shore Music Theater’s Youth Performance Academy, Boston Conservatory, and the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant.
_________________________________________________________________________
Darvin Hernandez: VISUAL JUDGE, Middle and High School Divisions
Darvin Hernandez is a freelance choreographer, adjudicator, and clinician based out of Washington, D.C. Originally from Waltham, Massachusetts, he began his career at his alma mater Waltham High School, where he choreographed the award-winning show choirs Music Express and Music Unlimited. Darvin has worked with various show choirs on the east coast and midwest, many of which have traveled and competed nationally, garnering awards including Best Choreography, Best Show Design, and Grand Champion. Darvin holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre and Dance from University of Massachusetts Amherst. When he isn’t traveling on weekends for show choir, Darvin works his corporate job in regional operations for Costco Wholesale and has been with the company for 16 years. Prior to relocating to the DC Metro Area, he spent eight years on-staff at Andover High School in Andover, Massachusetts where he was a member of the vocal music artistic team from 2013-2020. During his tenure in Andover he choreographed all three competitive show choirs, and helped conceive New England’s premiere show choir competition, the New England Show Choir Showdown. After serving as co-coordinator for NESCS for many years. Darvin is extremely honored to be asked to serve on this year’s judges panel. He would like to thank Lauren Peithmann, Beth Kennedy, the students, parents, and volunteers of the Andover High School vocal music program for their wonderful hospitality, and for continuing to produce this top tier event!
________________________________________________________________________
Jessica Lorion: VOCAL JUDGE, Middle and High School Divisions
JESSICA LORION is an American TV/Film and Theatre artist, Choreographer and Fitness Coach currently in Orlando Florida after living for 15 years in NYC. She’s also the Host and Producer of the Podcast: Mamas in Training.
She most recently appeared on stage as Joyce Bogart in SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical at The Gateway Playhouse. Screen credits include Metro Park (Eros Now/Amazon Prime), Homicide City: Charlotte (Investigation Discovery) and a national commercial for King Clean. Her theatrical credits include the National North American tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Babette), two productions of Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and multiple regional performances.
She has been a part of new readings with Broadway Licensing Worldwide and recorded new works with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. She also helped create Ghost: The Musical – Chamber Version in a world premiere production (co-produced by The Fulton Theatre and Maine State Music Theater).
Teaching, encouraging, and inspiring the next generation of artists is important to Jessica. She served on the faculty of Broadway Connection and has been the choreographer for Oliver Ames High School for the past five years. She is passionate about judging show choir competitions and meeting new artists all over the country. She continues to teach masterclasses for academic and performing arts institutions nationwide, and coaches artists around the world via video conferencing.
_________________________________________________________________________
Chris Nelson: BAND JUDGE, High School Division
Christopher Nelson teaches 6th – 8th band, chorus, acting, and jazz band at North Andover Middle School where he has taught since 2004. He also serves as Related Arts Academic Coordinator for the middle school and is the assistant director of the North Andover High School Marching Band. Chris earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at the University of New Hampshire in 2003 where he studied trumpet with Dr. Robert Stibler and conducting with Dr. Andrew Boysen. Jr. He has also studied with Roy Poper and Arto Hoornweg at the Oberlin Conservatory Trumpet Institute in Oberlin, OH. Chris earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education at Boston University in 2010.
He is an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association where he has managed jazz ensembles for the Northeastern District Senior Festival and Massachusetts All-State Festival and served as Senior Festival Coordinator and Chairperson. Currently, Chris is the chair-elect of the Northeastern District. When not teaching, he is an active freelance player for local theater, jazz, and church work. Chris also performs regularly with the Melrose Symphony Orchestra in Melrose, MA and the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in Salem, MA.