Our Staff
Harlee Balajadia
Artistic Director
Harlee Castro Balajadia is a Long Beach native and a rising star as a tenor vocalist, music educator, and arts administrator. He graduated from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University of Long Beach with dual degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral/Vocal Music Education. In his role as Director of Choral/Vocal/Music Appreciation Activities at Charles Evans Hughes Middle School in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) since 2020, Harlee has been instrumental in nurturing young talent and enhancing the school's music department. His leadership in choral, vocal, music appreciation and production programs has fostered a love for music among middle school students and the community at large.
Harlee also holds significant positions within various musical organizations. As the Chaperone Coordinator for the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) he ensures smooth operations and participant safety. His experience with CCDA includes roles as Ensemble Manager for the All State Jr. High SATB Ensemble at CASMEC 2024 and chaperone in 2023. Additionally, he directs social equity programs through music as the LB Program Director and Directing Manager for Voices for Social Justice.
Harlee's continues to be an active performer with groups like the Long Beach Camerata Singers, Catalyst, Choral Arts Initiative, and The Filharmonic. He also currently serves as the Choral Lead and a Staff Soloist at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach and in one of LA’s newest Choral Groups - voices/LA, directed by John Sutton.
His unwavering passion for music and his ability to lead and inspire make him a respected figure in the arts community. He is excited to follow to build on the groundwork that Long Beach Youth Chorus has established here in his hometown and is looking forward to seeing the vision and the choral art making that will blossom.
Email: Harlee@longbeachyouthchorus.org
Madeline Reynolds
Assistant Director (YMP & IVA Chorus)
Madeline Reynolds is a Southern California soprano whose experiences are vast and varied. From the stage to the recording studio, her voice and musicality shine as she takes on each genre of music.
In 2020, she earned a B.M. in vocal performance from Azusa Pacific University where she studied with Angela Blasi. She recently completed her masters degree in vocal performance at UCLA under the tutelage of Michael Dean in June 2023.
Her opera roles thus far include Anne Trulove in Stravinksy’s The Rake’s Progress, Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Maria Maladetto in Richard Danielpour’s new opera The Grand Hotel Tartarus, Thérèse in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte.
Other accomplishments include yodeling for the movie, Trolls: World Tour in the song, “Yodel Beat,” singing on the TV show, Minx, and touring as a background singer with the band “Thee Sacred Souls.”
She is currently singing with Long Beach Camerata Singers, Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles, and with the Hour of Power choir in Orange County. She also teaches music theory and musicianship classes for the LA Children’s Chorus.
Daniel Manoiu
Collaborative Pianist
Daniel Manoiu is an award winning pianist, composer and organist based in Southern California. Originally from Romania, Daniel has won numerous awards, including first prize at the Rovere D'oro Piano Competition in San Bartolomeo, Italy and third prize at the AMSA World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, OH. He has performed at world class venues, including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations and the Kennedy Center. Daniel has written original music for films and shows featured on Amazon Prime, and STARZ, and is an active composer and music editor for film and TV. Daniel earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami, and now holds the position of Principal Musician for the dance department at University of California, Irvine. Prior to coming to Grace First, Daniel served as a pianist and organist for Poniciana United Methodist Church in Miami Springs, FL, and for Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Sarah Ruopp
LBYC Vocal Coach
Sarah Ruopp (she/her) is a mezzo-soprano and educator dedicated to performing authentically and making the world of music a safe space for everyone. She has performed at ACDA National and various venues across Southern Europe with the Bob Cole Chamber Choir. She also sings with Jazz & Tonic, a jazz voice ensemble at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.
Sarah was raised in Lake Arrowhead, CA before moving to the LA area, and she is currently pursuing her BM in Choral Music Education at CSU Long Beach. She has enjoyed past opportunities to sing with the San Fernando Valley Master Chorale and to serve as assistant director for three ensembles over the course of her studies. Sarah fully realized her love for teaching while working as a music tutor and is excited to further a career in education. Her hobbies include reading, gaming, hiking, and playing volleyball.
Email: sarah@longbeachyouthchorus.org
Olivia TenHouten
CSULB BCCM Intern
Olivia Tenhouten is a mezzo-soprano and educator dedicated to elevating children to their full potential as both musicians and humans. Olivia was raised in Los Angeles and is currently studying Choral-Vocal Music Education at Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. She has worked as a teacher and director with several vocal ensembles across Los Angeles over the course of her studies. Olivia knew she had to pursue choral education while she functioned as a conductor’s assistant and is excited to continue furthering her career. In her free time, she loves to spend time reading and playing with her 4 dogs.
Stan DeWitt
Executive Director
Stan DeWitt has been a fixture of the Long Beach music community for over 35 years as an acclaimed conductor, singer, guitarist and composer whose work crosses into all realms of music. After graduating with a BA and Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Cal State University, Long Beach, he was on the faculty at Coastline College for 26 years, and has taught or directed at Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach City College, Cypress College and Fullerton College. He was the Artistic Director for Zephyr: Voices Unbound and has sung with numerous professional small ensembles, including L.A. Schola and De Angelis Vocal Ensemble. He is currently the Minister of Music at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach, a producer for the Sound Ministry Gurus production team, and founding Executive Director for the Long Beach Youth Chorus.
Email: Stan@longbeachyouthchorus.org
Photographer: Daniel Wilson