The Halifax Camerata Singers has been a leader in Atlantic Canada’s vibrant arts community since its founding by Artistic Director Emeritus Jeff Joudrey in 1986. Made up of some of the region’s finest choral singers, the ensemble performs exciting repertoire in a wide range of styles, with an especial focus on contemporary Canadian composers. The award-winning semi-professional auditioned choir is known for excellence in choral storytelling and for creating memorable live music experiences. To further its commitment to artistic collaborations and community partnerships, the choir incorporates soloists, guest artists, and other choral groups into its concert programs. Since 2001, Camerata has been the core choir of the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus, appearing with Symphony Nova Scotia for the annual Messiah performances as well as other major choral presentations.

Current Artistic Director Dr. Joel Tranquilla is thrilled with the achievements of the Halifax Camerata Singers over his first two seasons leading the ensemble, and looks forward with great excitement to the developments of the seasons to come. From launching the first album since before COVID to launching the choir’s first ever out-of-province tour, Camerata is in a position of great artistic energy. Upcoming seasons will build on that energy - partnering with artists ranging from circus to poets to puppeteers, exploring new venues from sciences centres to theatres to parks, and furthering its commitment to educational outreach, community building, and making choral music accessible to all. “The singers, pianist, and conductors have been learning how to be in sync with one another (literally inhaling and exhaling together),” says Tranquilla.  “We sing with open ears, open minds, and open hearts.”

The high level of ability in the choir allows it to champion composers whose works - due to difficulty, obscurity, or both - might otherwise struggle to be heard. As such, Camerata has a strong background of commissioning and premiering new works, ever expanding on the available Canadian choral catalogue. Camerata is also committed to working with new and emerging composers, particularly with its Composer-in-Residence program. Past composers-in-residence include Laura Hawley (2021-2022), Ben Sigerson (2023-2024), and India Gailey (2024-2025), and works by all three composers are included on Camerata’s newest album, inhale | exhale. 

Halifax Camerata Singers thanks its donors and funders, the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, the J & W Murphy Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Dartmouth, and Mr. Chris McKillop. 

Your donation helps us continue our strong commitment to commissioning, educational outreach, and support for local choral artists.

The choir acknowledges that we are located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship first signed in 1725.

Information: contact gm@halifaxcamerata.org, find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or www.halifaxcamerata.org.