Melanie Charles

Saturday, March 10th

It’s Melanie’s birthday and she’s celebrating at The Velvet Note!

Brooklyn-Born Haitian Singer-Songwriter,Flutist, arranger, producer, actress and teacher; Melanie Charles has been building a buzz since 2010 performing internationally and being featured on albums alongside artist such as Gregory Porter, Jose James (under the direction of guitarist/Producer Nicola Conte), Lakecia Benjamin, Jesse Fischer, Laura Izibor and many other Soul, Jazz and contemporary artists.

A proud graduate of the prestigious LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts (the Fame School), as a flute major, Melanie discovered her talent for writing, and musical theatre. Melanie traveled to Germany and Russia with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus as a soloist and won a number of international competitions during the tour. Fresh out of high school, Melanie toured Italy with the “Smooth Groove Band” as lead vocalist and flutist. During her 4 years in High school and through college Melanie studied Classical Voice with Nkenge Simpson-Hofmann (of Motown The Broadway Musical) and was a featured soloist with the City Wide Youth Opera directed by Andres Andrade.

A year later Melanie was accepted to the prestigious New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music under the tutelage of jazz masters such as Reggie Workman, Bobby Sanabira, Junior Mance, Janet Lawson, Carla Cook, and Billy Harper. At the New School, she discovered her voice as a strong improviser, song interpreter, and arranger. During her time at the New School, Melanie also toured Europe singing back-up for Atlantic recording artist Laura Izibor, while opening up for John Legend, Maxwell, India Arie, Chrisette Michele, and Joe.