Harlee Balajadia

Harlee Castro Balajadia is a Long Beach native and accomplished tenor vocalist, music educator, and arts administrator. He graduated from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, with dual degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral/Vocal Music Education. Harlee’s versatile performance portfolio includes solo renditions of works such as The Blessing by Heather Sorenson and Every Praise by Richard Smallwood, showcasing both his artistry and dedication to his craft.

Since 2020, Harlee has served as Director of Choral/Vocal/Music Appreciation Activities at Charles Evans Hughes Middle School in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), where he has been instrumental in nurturing young talent and elevating the school’s music department. Under his leadership, the Hughes Middle School Choir achieved a major milestone with their debut performance at Carnegie Hall in June 2025.

In addition to his work in public education, Harlee is the Artistic Director for the Long Beach Youth Chorus, where he leads the Master Singers ensemble. His vision and direction will bring the Master Singers to perform at Carnegie Hall in June 2026, continuing a legacy of national-level performance opportunities for young singers.

Harlee also holds key roles in the broader choral community. As the Chaperone Coordinator for the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) at CASMEC 2025, he ensures smooth operations and participant safety. His CCDA experience includes serving as Ensemble Manager for the All-State Jr. High SATB Ensemble at CASMEC 2024 and as a chaperone in 2022. He directs social equity initiatives in music as the LB Program Director and Manager for Voices for Social Justice and manages operations and registration for the Vocal Jazz Academy. He also serves as Gig Lead for The Candlelight Carolers, coordinates community relations for The Filharmonic Entertainment, and oversees social media for Choral Audacity.

An active performer, Harlee has sung with the Long Beach Camerata Singers, Choral Arts Initiative, The Filharmonic, and newly Voices of Terpsichor. His previous roles include Section Leader and Director On Call at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Long Beach (2018–2023). Currently pursuing his Master’s in Music Education at Boston University—to be completed in Winter 2025—Harlee will be applying for doctoral programs in Fall 2025 to further his work in music education, arts leadership, and culturally responsive pedagogy. His unwavering passion for music, coupled with his commitment to creating transformative opportunities for young musicians, continues to make him a respected and visionary figure in the arts community.