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About Trinity & Chris

Vocalists • Arrangers • Genre-crossing • Multi-cultural • Multi-instrumental

Trinity & Chris first met as musicians aboard Holland America Line’s World Cruise, quickly discovering a shared passion for artistry, versatility, and storytelling. Blending island, soul, and classics, they bring together Trinity’s powerhouse vocals and multicultural roots with Chris’s jazz-driven arrangements and keyboard mastery.

With backgrounds in classical and jazz, and performing on over ten instruments between them, they move effortlessly through jazz, pop, Broadway, rock, funk, folk, and world music — making every performance world-class and unforgettable.

Trinity (Melelani) Villanueva is an American jazz vocalist, ukulelist, classical pianist, and Polynesian dancer whose journey spans Broadway stages and cruise ships to curating Smithsonian exhibitions. A graduate of IU Jacobs School of Music, University of Pennsylvania and Trinity College Dublin, she is a certified Life Coach and founder of Ukulele with Mele and Trin’s Music, currently pursuing her MBA. Of Hawaiian-Filipino and Puerto Rican heritage, her artistry is rooted in her cultures. She’s coached creatives at Paramount, RollingStone, and Google and mentors and advises at the National Art Education Association and Strathmore Arts Center.

Chris Bruder is a Toronto-based pianist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist with a career spanning international performance, recording, and arranging. A Humber College Jazz Studies graduate and Hamilton Music Awards nominee for Keyboardist of the Year, he has recorded on dozens of albums across genres from jazz and folk to rock and salsa. His compositions have been performed by Grammy-nominated artists, and his arranging work includes Holland America Line’s acclaimed World Stage tributes to Pink Floyd and Santana.

Show Options

Aloha Soul

A journey through the heart of Polynesia.

Aloha Soul celebrates the spirit of the islands through song, story, and movement. Blending traditional melodies with soulful island favorites, Trinity honors her Polynesian ancestry through hula, chant, and island fusions.

The show moves from ancient chants honoring Hi‘iakaikapoliopele to Hollywood Hula with “Blue Hawai‘i,” to modern classics like “Over the Rainbow,” and Jawaiian music. With ukulele harmonies, songs in English, Hawaiian and Tahitian, Aloha Soul transports audiences across the Pacific.

Setlist

Tribute to Hi’iakaikapoliopele: Opening Chant and Kahiko 3 mins Hi’iakaikapoliopele is the goddess of chant, mele, healing, and journeying Tribute to Henry Allen: “Little Grass Shack” (Piano/Vocal) 4mins Chris plays keys; Trin plays ukulele and sings “Hei Iti Vaihi” (sung in Tahitian) (Tahitian Ukulele/Vocal) 3mins Trin sings, Chris harmonizes; Trin plays Tahitian ukulele and Chris plays ukulele Tribute to Elvis Presley: “Blue Hawai’i” (hula dance) 4mins Trin dances; Chris plays keys and sings “Cool Down” – Kolohe Kai (Ukulele/Vocal) 4mins “Blackbird” (sung in Hawaiian) – Piano/Vocal 4mins Chris plays guitar; Trin plays piano Tribute to IZ: “Over the Rainbow” → “Margarita” (Ukulele/Vocal) 7mins Chris sings Over the Rainbow, while playing ukulele or guitar; Trin plays ukulele Margarita is a vocal duet, Chris plays ukulele or guitar, Trin plays ukulele Finale: “Henehene Kou ‘Aka” (Ukulele/Vocal) 4mins Chris plays ukulele; Trin plays Tahitian ukulele

Jazz Around the World

Timeless jazz meets global rhythm and romance.

From Paris to Rio to Tokyo, Jazz Around the World is a cosmopolitan celebration of music’s universal language. Trinity’s velvet vocals and multilingual flair pair seamlessly with Chris’s inventive jazz arrangements.

Together, they reinterpret global favorites like “La Vie en Rose,” “Sakura Sakura,” “Sodade,” and “Bésame Mucho” with a modern twist — blending swing, bossa nova, bolero, and Latin jazz into an elegant and uplifting concert experience.

Setlist

“La Vie en Rose” (French) - big start arrangement that starts with the band, specifically jazz improvisation by piano and then the vocals join in for verse/chorus towards end “Sakura Sakura” (Japanese) - New Orleans vibe with horn lines - vibrant and bright “Estate” (Italian) - European style with melodica to be featured as an accordion sound - sway tempo “Honeysuckle Rose” (English) - arrangement soulful/ slow rock meets jazz “Sodade” (Portuguese Creole) - bossa nova style - dance tempo “My Funny Valentine” (piano portion) – Intimate solo interlude; highlights Chris’s piano playing “Bésame Mucho” (Spanish) - bolero into rumba - moderate speed “Oye Como Va” (Spanish) - Latin jazz Santana style version - uptempo and bright

Timeless Together

Classic duets, unforgettable chemistry.

Timeless Together takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through the greatest duets of all time — from Motown soul to singer-songwriter pop. With effortless harmonies and playful energy, Trinity & Chris reimagine classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and mashups of Billy Joel and Elton John hits, closing with a powerhouse “Proud Mary.” Equal parts soulful, musical, and fun, this show celebrates love, joy, and timeless connection.

Setlist

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (4 mins) – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Chris on keys, Trin on vocals You’ve Got a Friend → I Feel the Earth Move (7 mins) – Carole King Chris on Guitar, Trin on keys - both switch on vocals and harmonies Fallin’ (5 mins) – Alicia Keys - 4 hands, 1 piano Shared piano performance between both Chris and Trinity- both on vocals Temptations / Beatles Medley (6 mins) – “My Girl,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Twist & Shout,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” Trin on keys, Chris on guitar Billy Joel / Elton John Mashup (10 mins) – “Tiny Dancer,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Piano Man” Trin on keys to begin, Chris on guitar - both vocals Then they swap to both on keys - both vocals Then they swap and Trin on melodica and Chris on keys - both vocals Finale: Proud Mary (5 mins) – Ike & Tina Turner Trin on ukulele and vocals, Chris on keys