Ms. Melissa Torres is the Director of Choirs at Hayfield Secondary School, where she has the privilege of working with students in grades 7-12. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice from George Mason University. During her time there, she studied classical voice performance under Dr. Kathryn Hearden and Dr. Alyssa Alvarez and piano under Dr. Yoonji Kim. Ms. Torres is licensed to teach K-12 general music and choir and has been teaching music in Fairfax County since 2020.

Before joining Hayfield, Ms. Torres began her career at Fairfax Villa Elementary School, where she taught K-6 general music, directed the 5th and 6th grade choir, and led the school’s All-County Chorus group.

In addition to her teaching, Ms. Torres has an extensive performance background. She has sung with the George Mason University Singers, the George Mason Chorale, the Fairfax Choral Society, The Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Northern Virginia Chorale being able to perform at the Kennedy center for the arts, the Hylton Performing Arts Center, in Kenya for a study abroad program and many others. Her vocal experience also includes numerous section leader and board roles, as well as professional church performances throughout the Northern Virginia area.

Her commitment to excellence in teaching was recognized early in her career, as she was nominated for Outstanding New Teacher in her region during her first year of teaching.

A proud product of Fairfax County, Ms. Torres is a graduate of Lake Braddock Secondary School. She has enjoyed building lasting connections with students and colleagues over the years, both as a teacher and as a member of the Fairfax County community.

Outside of her teaching and musical endeavors, Ms. Torres enjoys hobbies like building intricate Lego creations and bird watching. She also finds joy in designing readable and functional seating charts and loves making music with friends while exploring new instruments.

Ms. Torres believes every student should have the opportunity to experience meaningful music-making. She is dedicated to creating an environment where all students, regardless of background, can explore and develop their musical talents. As someone who grew up shy and overcame performance anxiety, Ms. Torres is passionate about helping students gain confidence in their abilities and encouraging them to embrace opportunities for growth. She firmly believes that music education not only fosters creativity but also enhances students' ability to learn and engage with other academic subjects. Her goal is for all students to keep music in their lives at whatever level they choose, helping them recognize their own potential and strengths.