Edmontonβs Choir of
Professional Singers
Next Concert
β‘
June 21, 2026
β‘
Next Concert β‘ June 21, 2026 β‘
welcome to haveN
The ensemble grew out of a group of colleagues friends and singers who came together to perform Path of Miracles.
Our name reflects our mission:
to create an
ARTISTIC HAVEN
A place for excellent singers to bring their whole selves to the music βwhere itβs safe to take risks and reach for our collective best.
Every voice is valued not just for its skill, but for the human behind it.
Haven is now a professional-calibre ensemble made up of some of the finest choral singers in Western Canada. The vision is to grow into a paid, professional choir based in Edmonton.
LISTEN to HAVEN
Meet THE Founder & artistic director
Andrew Bortz
Andrew is a sought-after conductor, singer, composer, and collaborative pianist. He is the Artistic and Executive Director of the Edmonton Youth and Childrenβs Choirs, where he conducts both the Edmonton Youth Choir and Resound, a young adult ensemble for singers aged 18β30.
He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of Alberta, where he also conducts the U of A Mixed Chorus.
Andrew has had the opportunity to work as both a conductor and singer with several of Canadaβs leading choirs, including musica intima, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Luminous Voices, Pro Coro Canada, Phoenix Chamber Choir, Aurora Chamber Choir, and Chorus Inspira.
Passionate about building community through music, he brings a creative and human-centered approach to his leadership on the podium.
MEET the SINGERS
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Nicholas Allen
Bass
Baritone Nicholas Allen is a native Calgarian who endeavoured into a life of music at an early age, making his start with the Calgary Boysβ Choir. He went on to sing for 2 seasons with the prestigious Vienna Boys Choir and many other choirs for the next 25 years. He completed his BMus at the University of Victoria, studying voice under Benjamin Butterfield and singing with the UVic Chamber Singers and UVic Vocal Jazz.
As a classical soloist he has performed with Early Music Voices, the Calgary Bach Society, the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus (where he also served as the Bass section principal), Mount Royal Kantorei, and sings often with Luminous Voices, where he was recently bass soloist in the Mozart Requiem. He currently teaches band and choir at a junior high and high school in Chestermere.
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Dawn Bailey
Soprano
Dawn holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the University of Toronto, a Master of Music in early music performance from McGill, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. Dawn is a familiar face in Edmonton's choral and early music communities, performing often with Pro Coro Canada, Early Music Alberta, and the Alberta Baroque Ensemble.
She has performed and recorded extensively with early music ensembles in Canada and Europe, including appearing as a soloist on Ensemble Capriceβs Juno award-winning album βVivaldi and his Angels." In addition to making music every day with her own three children, Dawn teaches grade one at the WISE Charter School for Waldorf Education.
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Ian Bannerman
Tenor
Ian is a conductor, soloist, teacher, and ensemble member with a distinct interest in vocal music. Ian has performed with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, musica intima, Early Music Vancouver, Victoria Symphony, Okanogan Symphony Orchestra, Voicescapes, Luminous Voices, and Early Music Alberta. Ian conducts A Joyful Noise Monday Choir and teaches voice privately and as a sessional instructor of voice at Concordia University of Edmonton.
Ian holds a B. Mus. from The University of British Columbia, and a B. Ed. and M. Mus. from The University of Alberta.
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Jane Berry
Alto
Jane is an award winning educator, composer, conductor, coach, and professional musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition, Bachelor of Education, Master of Arts in Music Theory, and PhD (abd) in Music Theory and Educational Psychology. She teaches music full time, conducts both ETown Minors and ETown Augmented, and performs with a wide variety of ensembles including FEMME Vocal Quartet, ProCoro Canada, and Vocal Renegades.
As a composer and arranger her works have been performed around the world and she is well known for using her voice and platform to amplify marginalized voices. In her spare time Jane is an avid painter, equestrian, volleyball player, and proud mother.
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Samara Bortz
Soprano
Samara believes that the greatest joy in this world is making music with the people that you love. She is the conductor of the Edmonton Youth Choir, helping her singers grow as young musicians, empathetic leaders, and thoughtful community members. Prior to moving to Edmonton, Samara was the founder and artistic director of Crescent Choirs, an organization with more than 150 singers of all ages and levels.
Samara has sung with Pro Coro Canada, Phoenix Chamber Choir, Aurora Chamber Choir, and UBC's University Singers. She holds degrees in voice performance, historical musicology, and choral conducting from Mount Allison University and the University of British Columbia. Outside of the rehearsal room, you'll find Samara running her design and mentorship studio, running in the river valley, and running after her toddler, Charlie.
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John Brough
Tenor
John has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a conductor, organist, tenor soloist and music educator. John has conducted and prepared choruses for numerous iconic choral works, working alongside internationally renowned conductors and soloists.
He has appeared as conductor, chorister and soloist on commercial recordings with many ensembles, including Da Camera Singers, Ensemble de la Rue, Madrigal Singers and Richard Eaton Singers, and has taken choirs on tours throughout Canada, and Europe. John is currently Assistant Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University of Edmonton.
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RJ Chambers
Tenor
Well known in Edmonton's choral community, RJ Chambers has served as conductor, tenor, and/or accompanist all throughout the city. Currently, RJ is the Artistic Director for the Dawn Chorus Choir and ALIVE. RJ also sings regularly with ensembles in and around Edmonton.
In addition to his work in Edmontonβs choral community, RJ has served as a choral clinician throughout Alberta and serves on the Board of a handful of music organizations, including the Alberta Music Festival Association. Happily married to his beautiful wife Janette, RJ enjoys leisure time with her and their adorable animals, Kurby and Jango.
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Sable Chan
Alto
Sable is a professional choral singer based in Edmonton. She has sung with ensembles such as, Pro Coro Canada, Edmonton Opera Chorus, Canadian Chamber Choir, and is co-founder and singer with FEMME Vocal Ensemble. Sable has also been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice and specializing in the area of voice therapy.
She is the author of The Choir Girl Blog, where she publishes articles and interviews with choral individuals from across Canada. In 2019, Edify Magazine named Sable as one of their Top 40 Under 40.
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Graeme Climie
Bass
Graeme is a Calgary-based singer, arts administrator, and choral specialist with experience across a wide range of ensembles and styles. He has performed with Luminous Voices, Pro Coro Canada, the Elora Festival Singers, Calgary Opera, Spiritus Chamber Choir, and others, and co-founded the Vocal Renegades Collective. A four-time member of the National Youth Choir of Canada, he is currently Bass Section Leader of the World Youth Choir, where he has represented Canada since 2019.
Graeme serves as Assistant Director and Business Manager of CantarΓ© Childrenβs Choir, an organization heβs been part of for over 23 years. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary and also works as a freelance marketing agent for arts organizations, combining business expertise with a passion for videography.
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Erin Craig
Alto
Erin (they/them) is a conductor, vocalist, composer, keyboardist, and educator born and raised in Edmonton. They spend most of their time planning seasons and leading rehearsals for Accord Ensemble and Edmonton Vocal Minority; teaching piano, voice, and music theory students and coaching new teachers in their studio; and writing music for choir, organ, and piano. When they arenβt doing something music-related, you can usually find them playing video games, hyper-focusing on a new art or craft, writing stories, or serenading their cats, Sif and Dale, with their partner, Matthew.
Erin is a proud advocate for gender equality and diversity in music. In their work as a choral conductor, they always aim to program music by composers of diverse backgrounds at parity with, or over and above, music from the Western Classical canon. They believe that performers and audiences alike are enriched by experiencing music outside the choral norms, and are always searching for music by composers who are yet unknown to them.
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Rob Curtis
Bass
Rob Curtis wears many hats in the choral community as a conductor, singer, and composer. Rob is the Artistic Director of i Coristi Chamber Choirβone of Edmontonβs premier chamber ensemblesβand has helmed a number of other groups including the University of Alberta Concert Choir.
He has performed as a professional choral singer across Canada and beyond, and is also frequently seen around Edmonton as a church musician and collaborative pianist. When not making music or chasing after his three kids, Rob also works as a freelance writer and communications consultant.
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Lesley Dolman
Alto
Lesley is a Mezzo-Soprano currently based in the Edmonton area in Alberta. She currently sings with A Joyful Noise, the Richard Eaton Singers, and the Edmonton Opera Chorus, as well as performing as a soloist with various ensembles around the Edmonton.
She returned to Edmonton in 2020 after 5 years of living in Wales, where she completed her MA in Opera Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Lesley previously completed a Mastersβ in Voice Performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and a Bachelorβs in Opera Performance at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
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Stephen Duncan
Bass
Stephen is a classically trained singer from Vancouver, known for his warm tone, expressive phrasing, and captivating stage presence. Stephen is a lover of both traditional and contemporary repertoire and has performed with professional choirs, operas and symphonies across the country and internationally.
Beyond the stage, Stephen is deeply inspired by spending time with nature. Whether hiking through the mountains, skiing in the rockies or surfing on the island, he finds that spending time with the beauty of the natural world profoundly influence his artistry and expression. For Stephen, music and nature are intertwined - both offering a sense of peace, connection, and renewal that he strives to share through every performance.
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Jolaine Kerley
Soprano
Jolaine is active as a soloist, voice instructor, choral conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. She is currently Associate Professor of Music at Concordia University of Edmonton as well as artistic director of Ariose Choir and conductor of the Archbishop Jordan Choirs. Jolaine holds degrees in Voice and Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta and Indiana University.
Jolaine has performed numerous times locally, nationally and internationally as a professional soloist and chorister with multiple choruses, orchestras, and organizations including the Stuttgart Kammerkor, Musica Ficta, Carmel Bach Festival, Portland Symphony Chorus, RES, Pro Coro Canada, ABE, Early Music Alberta, Westminster Choir, and was heard as soprano soloist in Allan Bevanβs Nou Goth Sonne Under Wode at Carnegie Hall.
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Tyson Kerr
Tenor
Tyson is a stylistically diverse composer, arranger, pianist, organist, singer, and accordionist. Tyson has collaborated with and written commissions for a variety of Edmonton groups, including Citie Ballet, Musango, 6 Minute Warning, Pro Coro Canada, and Cosmopolitan Music Society. An award-winning graduate of the University of Toronto, Grant MacEwan, and Banff Centre for the Arts music programs, Tyson has released several albums as leader/co-leader with free improvised classical folk quartet Myrtle's Turtle and jazz collective The Writers' Guild.
Tyson is the organist for St Paulβs United, teaches through the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, Winspear Conservatory, and uses a degree in social work to help build more inclusive environments for artists and youth. He also once worked in a pie factory.
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Andrew Malcolm
Bass
Andrew had an early start in choral music thanks to parents who sang (and continue to sing!) in a number of choirs and groups around the city. He is the product of Edmonton's thriving choral community, having sung with many ensembles, including Pro Coro Canada, Edmonton Children's Choir, Korora (formerly Kokopelli), the TIME Association, and Chronos Vocal Ensemble.
He has also sung in several small vocal ensembles including 6 Minute Warning, of which he was a founding member. Andrew is a proud husband to his incredibly supportive wife, and also an adoring father to his 3-year-old daughter.
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Christian Maxfield
Bass
Christian is a Grade 2 teacher at SML Christian Academy in Stony Plain, Alberta. A graduate of Concordia University of Edmonton, he completed a B.A. in history and music (voice) in 2017 and a Bachelor of Education in 2019.
Christian conducts the Spiritus boysβ choir of the Edmonton Youth and Childrenβs Choir organization and sings regularly with Pro Coro Canada and other ensembles in the Edmonton area. In his free time, Christian enjoys time with friends and family, cooking, reading, and keeping active.
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Josiah Maxfield
Bass
Josiah is an active member in the Edmonton choral community as a singer, section leader and soloist with numerous choirs. In early 2024, he was appointed as music director of the St. Davidβs Welsh Male Voice Choir, and in May 2024, he represented the province of Alberta in the National Youth Choir of Canada/Choeur national des jeunes du Canada.
Josiah recently accepted a Johann Strauss Foundation Music Award and is excited to study at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Salzburg, Austria later this year.
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Abby Mendola
Believing that ensemble music-making is a transformative experience, Abby (she/her) sings regularly with Haven and Chronos Vocal Ensemble. She has also performed with Concordia Concert Choir, Ariose and Pro Coro Canada, and was a participant in Opera NUOVAβs 2025 10-Day Vocal Intensive. She holds a BA in Music and a Vocal Pedagogy and Performance Certificate from Concordia University of Edmonton.
Abby is committed to providing accessible, community-centred musical opportunities for youth and adults alike β she has served as a choral scholar with the Edmonton Youth and Childrenβs Choirs, was a founding member of Trinity Summer Chorale, and works as a Site Coordinator with YONA-Sistema and is the Program Delivery Specialist for the Alberta Childrenβs Choir.
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Caleb Nelson
Tenor
Caleb has been a key figure in Edmontonβs music scene for over 20 years. A versatile tenor, he specializes in classical, contemporary, and pop vocal techniques. He has worked with Albertaβs top choirs, including the 2025 Juno-nominated Luminous Voices. Calebβs recent performance highlights include Monteverdiβs Vespers, Carmina Burana, and For Always by Josh Groban. He is also the lead singer of Mixtape, a Top 40 cover band, and coaches over 10 community choirs in Edmonton.
Caleb owns Silver Studios, offering voice lessons, group clinics, and workshops. He works as a recording technician and sound engineer for ensembles across Edmonton. Calebβs current project, Vocal Renegades, supports professional development for vocal musicians, inspiring his collaboration on his first original choral composition To Wash the World co-written with poet Anna Marie Sewell. Outside of music, he enjoys camping with his family (including his three miniature schnauzers) and caring for his plants and fish.
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Sarah Schaub
Soprano
Sarah has performed as a soloist for music organizations throughout Western Canada. In addition to her work as a soloist, Sarah works as a professional chorister with Pro Coro Canada. Sarah Schaub has a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Education, and a Masters in Education.
Sarah is passionate about bringing high-quality music education to children. She teaches elementary music with Elk Island Catholic Schools in Fort Saskatchewan, is the Past-president of the Alberta KodΓ‘ly Association, conducts the youngest singers in Angeli with Edmonton Children's Choirs, and is mom to Henry and Maggie.
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Jonathon Sutton
Bass
Originally from the US, Jonathan Sutton has been making waves in the Edmonton music scene since 2024, singing bass for Pro Coro Canada, directing band clinics, and playing trombone with Cosmopolitan Music Society. He studied music education at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and earned a graduate degree in music education from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.
He currently coordinates music programming for the Winspear Centre in downtown Edmonton, and when heβs not making music, he can be found running or cycling around the city.
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Tim To
Bass
Born and raised in Edmonton, Tim can be found singing in a variety of ensembles in the city Ββ renaissance polyphony with some, and percussive accompanying bass lines with others.
Outside of rehearsal, he is an elementary music teacher, and loves all things to do with learning and pedagogy, music or otherwise.
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Amy Voyer
Alto
Amy is an all-round fixture of the Edmonton choral community. She teaches elementary music, conducts Harmonia and Luminaria with The Edmonton Youth and Childrenβs Choirs, and sings with a variety of professional ensembles including Haven and FEMME Vocal Ensemble. Amy has had the pleasure of singing with Pro Coro Canada and conducting for Korora Choirs (Tamariki) and Edmonton Young Voices (Junior Choir) and is sought after as a childrenβs choir and elementary music clinician.
She holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from Concordia University of Edmonton. Amy is known for her exuberance and her artistry, her ability to foster joyful and inclusive music-making communities, and the sound of her unmistakable laugh!
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Jessica Wagner
Soprano
Jessica holds a Masters in Performance at the University of Victoria, having studied under Benjamin Butterfield. As a singer, Jessica has a diverse repertoire and performance interest, and has studied at baroque academies and contemporary music labs here in Canada, The United States and in Europe. Jessica has performed as a soloist for choirs, orchestras and ensembles.
Jessica is especially passionate about working with composers on new music and has performed many Canadian and world premieres. Jessica regularly sings with ensembles here in Edmonton including Pro Coro Canada and the St. Josephβs Basilica Schola Cantorum.
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Andrew Whiteside
Tenor
Born in Richmond British Columbia, Andrew is an avid conductor, tenor soloist, and chorister living in Edmonton for the past four years. He holds a BA in Music degree from Trinity Western University and a MMus in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta.
Choirs that Andrew works with regularly are ProCoro Canada, Kappella Kyrie as assistant conductor, the Richard Eaton Singers, and the Joyful Noise choirs. Andrew is also Worship Coordinator at Inglewood Christian Reformed church working as an organist and contemporary music worship leader.
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Anthony Wynne
Tenor
Anthony was born and raised in Edmonton, and has sung in a variety of choirs in the city throughout most of his life. He currently sings with Pro Coro Canada, the Schola Cantorum at Saint Joseph's Cathedral Basilica, and A Joyful Noise.
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Alli Zaragoza
Soprano
Alli (she/her) is an Edmontonian soprano whose enthusiasm for connecting with a variety of music has allowed her to engage with many genres, including operatic, contemporary, musical theatre, and choral repertoire. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta.
Alli has previously been a member of the 2022 National Youth Choir, as well as the University of Alberta Opera Theatre- where she performed as Kate in the 2023 production of The Pirates of Penzance. Alli spends the rest of her time teaching voice and piano, reading, or hiking in the mountains.
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