The Halifax Camerata Singers has contributed to the musical landscape of Atlantic Canada since its founding in 1986. Led by Artistic Director Dr. Joel Tranquilla, the award-winning auditioned choir is known for excellence in choral storytelling and for creating memorable live music experiences. Camerata balances the classics of choral repertoire with explorations of new works by underheard voices and championing contemporary Canadian composers.
Members of the Halifax Camerata Singers have rich personal and professional connections to music-making and appear in ensembles across the province both as singers and choral leaders. 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.
The Halifax Camerata Singers is a not-for-profit society managed by a volunteer board of directors. Funding comes from performances, donations, and fundraising, with supporting grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, J&W Murphy Foundation, and the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation.
Dr. Joel Tranquilla (he/him/his) is a conductor and music educator noted for his versatile musicianship and creative programming. As the Artistic Director of the Halifax Camerata Singers, Chorus Master of Symphony Nova Scotia, and Director of Music at Grace United Church in downtown Dartmouth, he oversees a busy schedule of local choral performances, educational outreach, and community engagement. Camerata was nominated for an East Coast Music Award in 2025 in the Vocal Release category. He is proud to have served in past leadership roles with the Canadian Chamber Choir, Trinity Western University Choirs, the Valley Festival Singers of Abbotsford, the Coastal Sound Youth Choir, the Windsor Classic Chorale, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
In high demand as an adjudicator and clinician across the country, Joel is a past Guest Conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, New Brunswick Youth Choir, and the Manitoba Provincial Honour Choir, and he was the Assistant Conductor of the 2012 National Youth Choir of Canada. He was the winner of the 2012 Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award as well as the recipient of the Emerging Artist Award at the 2013 Ontario Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. He holds degrees from Mount Allison University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University where his doctoral research was in the area of Canadian choral-orchestral works.
Amelia McMahon (she/her/elle) grew up in the Annapolis Valley and recently returned to Nova Scotia after making her home in Montreal for 21 years. In addition to her role as Associate Conductor of the Halifax Camerata Singers, she is the Artistic Director of the South Shore Chorale, Co-Principal Conductor of Eastern Horizon, and Conductor of the LeMarchant-St. Thomas Elementary School Choir. She is also on the vocal and choral faculties at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. As a singer she performs regularly at St. George’s Round Church and with East Coast Carolling, has had roles in two operas produced by Vocalypse, and is excited to be a member of the new vocal jazz quartet, Canvas. Mentored throughout her career by Maestro Iwan Edwards, Amelia studied choral conducting at Université de Sherbrooke and holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice degree from McGill University.
Lynette Wahlstrom (she/her/hers) is Pianist for the Halifax Camerata Singers, Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus, and Director of Music at First Baptist Church Halifax. Lynette is a fervent supporter of FSPA Dalhousie University Music, having played for 14 years as Collaborative Pianist for the Voice Department. She is very proud to contribute to her community, having performed with Opera Nova Scotia, Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Opera from Scratch, and Nova Scotia Choral Federation, and has actively served on the boards of Opera Nova Scotia, RCCO Halifax Chapter, and Early Music Society of Nova Scotia. Lynette’s degrees include Bachelor of Music (Brandon University), Licentiate Diploma and Master of Collaborative Piano (McGill University), and Master of Piano Performance (Université de Montréal).
share this event:
