TAMARACK VOCAL COLLECTIVE
ABOUT TAMARACK VOCAL COLLECTIVE
Founded in January 2023, Tamarack Vocal Collective (TVC) is a vocal ensemble from the greater St. John's, NL. Focusing on masterworks from choral past and present, TVC looks forward to presenting engaging concerts each January and June beginning in 2024. Auditions will be taking place in June 2023, and can be scheduled by emailing Abra: tamarack.vocal@gmail.com
Founding Team
Co-Founder
Abra Whitney
Abra Whitney is a sought after singer, educator, conductor, clinician and arts administrator from St. John's, NL, and holds a BMus in Vocal Performance and MMus in Choral Conducting, both from the University of Alberta.
Recent credits include Chorus Master/Ensemble for Shanawdithit and The Phantom of the Opera (Opera on the Avalon), Mary in Only Young (RCA), Musical Director for Jack and the Cat (School Zone Productions), Florinat in Into the Woods (Opera on the Avalon), Alto Soloist in Handel's Messiah (Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and again with Bay of Islands Musical Arts Chorus), and Alto Soloist in Stabat Mater/Gloria (Lady Cove Women's Choir and The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra). She has also enjoyed adjudicating the Clarenville Kiwanis Music Festival and the Southern Manitoba Music Teachers' Association's online festival.
Abra has frequently produced her own performance series featuring the music of Nina Simone, Edith Piaf, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Broadway Musicals.
Abra is a Voice, Piano and Kindermusik teacher at Intervals Music Studio where she also acts as the Assistant Studio Manager. Additionally, Abra is the Artistic Director of Aurora Women's Choir and General Manager of Coastal Sounds Community Choir both based in CBS. Abra is also a proud and founding member of Projekt Chamber Voices, and alumni member of Shallaway Youth Choir, Lady Cove Women's Choir, Quintessential Vocal Ensemble and Pro Coro Canada.
Co-Founder
Tristan Cleveland-Thompson
Tristan Cleveland-Thompson is a singer, organist, pianist, and conductor living in St. John's, Newfoundland. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tristan moved to Newfoundland with his partner in 2018, and has been singing with Projekt Chamber Voices and is a 13 year member of the Canadian Chamber Choir. As of 2022 Tristan began playing at Cochrane Street United Church.
He studied Pipe Organ at the University of Alberta and then moved home to Halifax to pursue a career as a Music Director at Saint David's Presbyterian Church in downtown Halifax. As their organist and choir director, he oversaw their rehearsals, played for services, and contributed to the RCCO Halifax Chapters collaborative series. Additionally, Tristan sang tenor with the Halifax Camerata Singers for 9 years and served as their Assistant Conductor for 2 seasons, was contracted to sing with King's Chapel Choir and Chorus, and created an a capella group known as The 19.