Artistic Leadership
Christine Howlett
Artistic Director, Cappella Festiva
Conductor, Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir
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Canadian conductor and soprano Dr. Christine R. Howlett is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Vassar College, where she conducts the Vassar College Treble Chorus and Mixed Choir, and teaches music theory and voice. Her choruses have sung at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and have performed internationally in Cuba, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Turkey, and Uganda. Most recently, they toured in Vienna, Austria, and Prague, Czech Republic.
Dr. Howlett began her tenure with Cappella Festiva in 2006. She is the conductor of the Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir, an auditioned choral ensemble in its 49th year of performing in the Hudson Valley. In 2006, she co-founded the Summer Choral Festival at Vassar College and the Cappella Festiva Treble Choir, an auditioned choral ensemble for treble voices ages 10-17. She was recently appointed Music Director of the Greenwich Choral Society. She is in demand as a guest conductor, performing regularly with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic (newly named the Hudson Valley Symphony Orchestra). She has directed the New York All-State Women's Chorus and numerous All-County Choruses. She served as President of NY-ACDA and was appointed as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for Women's Choruses and College and University Choirs for the ACDA Eastern Division.
Dr. Howlett studied Vocal Performance at the University of Toronto and earned a Master's Degree in Early Music Voice Performance and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Indiana University.
Natalie Bunta
Director, Cappella Festiva Treble Choir (for grades 6th through 9th)
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Natalie Bunta is a music teacher at the Spackenkill Union Free School District, where she teaches orchestra lessons, general music and 6-8 chorus. She holds a bachelor of music in music education degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with concentrations in voice and special education. Natalie is currently obtaining her masters in music education degree through the summer masters program at Florida State University. Natalie is dedicated to developing confidence through singing where students can feel open to expressing themselves through music.
Elizabeth Clifton
Director, Cor Capriccio Children's Choir (for grades 2nd through 5th)
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Elizabeth Clifton began her vocal training while in high school in Baltimore, Maryland and continued her study of voice at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. She holds a master's degree in social work (MSW) from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been a member of Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir since 2006 and has sung in 16 different vocal ensembles in her life!
Elizabeth is a certified Music Together teacher and has been an early childhood music educator since 2007. She teaches music, chorus, and voice at Dutchess Day School, general music at Hawk Meadow Montessori School, and family music classes with Mid-Hudson Music Together. She is the founding director of Cor Capriccio Children’s Choir, part of the Cappella Festiva family of choirs. Cor Capriccio had its first season in 2016 and has been performing 2-3 concerts a year ever since. Cor Capriccio singers, who are students in grades 2-5 from all around the Hudson Valley, learn the art of choral singing while making friends and having a ton of fun! Elizabeth is passionate about helping people of all ages find and grow their singing voices.
Melinda Aaron
Director, Boys and Girls Club Chorus of Poughkeepsie
Melinda A. Aaron is a retired music educator from the Poughkeepsie City School District. She remains musically active by substituting in school music classes, giving piano/voice/alto saxophone lessons, being an independent contractor as a Music Instructor/Music Specialist, giving solo and group performances in various local venues and ensembles, and singing/playing “just for fun!”
Before this, she taught for 17 years in the Poughkeepsie City School District in the areas of chorus, general music, and beginning band at the elementary and middle school levels. Before being a music educator in Poughkeepsie, she did the same for one year in the Beacon City School District, at South Avenue Elementary School. Before becoming a certified music educator, she was a board certified music therapist for 16 years. She worked as a music therapist for a local NY state agency, primarily dealing with adults with developmental disabilities. Other populations included adolescents with various diagnoses and children/young adults to age 21 with autism. Throughout her 39 years in the music education/therapy profession, she has always enjoyed bringing her musical gifts to various populations.
James Fitzwilliam
Piano accompanist, Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir
James M. Fitzwilliam holds the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He is frequently seen throughout the Hudson Valley area as a pianist, organist and composer. He is a dedicated year-round barefooter, which provides during performances the benefit of increased sensitivity to the instrument and better pedal control at both the organ and the piano. A native of Plattsburgh, NY, he resides in the town of Clinton with his wife Julie, son Benjamin and daughter Diana.
Jodie McCaffrey
Piano accompanist, Cappella Festiva Treble Choir
Jodie McCaffrey, accompanist for Cappella Festiva Treble Choir, has been a public school music educator since 2007, teaching in the Arlington, Wappingers, East Ramapo and Highland school districts. She has taught private piano lessons at Vincitore's since 2005 and accompanied many soloists and choirs, ranging from school and church choirs to All County Choirs since 2007. Music is her passion, while she also enjoys geocaching, hiking, bike riding, the beach, and spending time with her family.