April/May 2025 Cecelia Scholar: Tessa Ellis
Tessa Ellis has been preoccupied with the sound of the trumpet since she first heard the instrument as a four-year-old. Inspired by a lifelong drive to create new and nuanced sounds, her work spans orchestral, chamber, and experimental music. Recent highlights include tours with Hans Zimmer Live, Star Trek: The Cruise, and performances with Seraph Brass, the Philadelphia Ballet Orchestra, Kennett Symphony, and the Delaware Symphony. She is a founding member of the Arcana New Music Ensemble and frequently collaborates across
genres with […]
A Massachusetts native, Clarinetist Sarah Connors is obtaining her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance at Temple University as a student of Paul Demers. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory/Composition and Clarinet Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying with Bixby Kennedy, Romie de Guise-Langlois, and Salvatore Macchia. She has participated in masterclasses with Steve Cohen, Alicia Lee, Philip Paglialonga, and Welsey Ferriera. Sarah can be heard on the album “Synchronous,” recorded by Greg Spiridopoulos and the UMass Wind 
Since 2022, the Parishioner Engagement committee has helped parish members connect to each other and their faith by encouraging involvement in our ministries and events. Committee members, PREP and the school have teamed up to spread the word about activities to the entire parish, using Flocknote, the bulletin, promotional materials, personal sharing and other methods. 
You know that line of children you see leaving Mass before the scripture readings? They’re heading over to the parish center for Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Held every Sunday at the 9:30 Mass, Children’s Liturgy helps kids understand the day’s readings and connect the lessons to their own lives. While their parents listen to the word of God in church (child-free!), the liturgy leaders present the same scripture in simple language and use singing, crafts and other activities to engage the 
Philadelphia-area native Shannon Merlino began violin lessons at nine years of age. Immediately upon receiving her rental instrument (and before having had a lesson), she declared that she would become a professional musician, and the rest, as they say, was history. Dr. Merlino completed her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at Rutgers University as a student of Matthew Reichert and Lenuta Ciulei. She received her Master of Music degree in violin performance as a scholarship student at the Mannes College 
Harpist Zora Evangeline is 21 years old and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Harp Performance at the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, where she studies with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to her frequent ensemble performances in school, Zora has performed with the New World Symphony, the Maryland Symphony, and the Allentown Symphony. Over the summer, Zora served as the harp fellow for the National Orchestral Institute and Festival, and the Brevard Music 
Faith Wasson is an international performing artist, having performed throughout Europe and North America as orchestral, chamber musician and soloist. She manages her own chamber music series, Flute with Faith & Friends, featuring an array of diverse repertoire and instrumentation. As classical music artist in residence, Faith presents the classical performance series at the Media Arts Council. She is the piccolo/3rd flutist with the Southeastern PA Symphony of which she is also the chamber music series curator. Faith teaches flute, piccolo and chamber music online