CHRISTINA JAHN

Soprano Christina Jahn is very grateful to have appeared both as a soloist and ensemble singer for over 20 years with leading Canadian early music groups and professional ensembles such as the Toronto Consort, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Opera Atelier, Early Music Vancouver, Vancouver Cantata Singers, Toronto Masque Theatre, Aradia Baroque Ensemble, Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval Music, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and at the Carmel Bach Festival in California. She has recorded for Marquis, NAXOS, Skylark and CBC Records. Christina founded musica intima in Vancouver and since her return to Calgary in 2000, formed and is Artistic Director for VoiceScapes, Calgary’s critically-acclaimed professional vocal ensemble. A strong proponent of developing emerging talent, she has provided stepping stone opportunities for over 150 young singers through the Debut Singers program at VoiceScapes Sing Along Messiah and through regular collaborations on VoiceScapes programs. Christina is a founding and current member of Luminous Voices. In addition to extensive work in early music, Christina has also premiered and recorded a number of new compositions by Canadian composers, and has sung to over 25,000 people at Globalfest’s Fireworks Finale. Christina has contributed significantly to community arts and service organizations over the last 30 years, serving on boards in AB, BC and ON. By day, she is a learning & development specialist and is currently working towards her certification in inquiry based coaching.

BENILA NINAN

Benila Ninan was born and raised in Edmonton. She moved to Vancouver in 2009, having earned degrees in both Voice Performance and Education from the University of Alberta, as well as advanced training at the Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Hungary. She completed a Masters degree in Music Education at the University of British Columbia.

A nationally accomplished choral singer and soloist, Benila has sung with Canada's professional choirs including Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton), Luminous Voices (Calgary), Vancouver Chamber Choir, and musica intima (Vancouver). Internationally, she has also sung under the batons of master conductors including Frieder Bernius, Steve Zegree, and Peter Erdei. She is currently a soprano section leader with the Vancouver Cantata Singers.

Benila is a choral adjudicator and clinician, having worked with choirs at the Cantando Festival (Whistler), Choralfest North (Edmonton), and the Ontario Music Festival (Oshawa and Brampton). As a music teacher, Benila has been on the faculties of such prestigious schools as Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts (Edmonton), Collingwood School (West Vancouver), and is currently on faculty at York House School in Vancouver.

MONIQUE OLIVIER

Monique Olivier graduated in 2005 from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, under the direction of Dr. George Evelyn. She has sung with a number of exceptional choirs including the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir, the Canadian Chamber Choir, and the National Youth Choir. 

Monique directs the Choral program at William Aberhart High School, which consistently receives "superior" ratings at local, provincial and national festivals. She also serves on the board of the Calgary Association for the Development of Music Education (CADME), coordinating choral and conducting workshops.

HANNAH PAGENKOPF

Soprano Hannah Pagenkopf has performed extensively in Calgary and abroad, and has been featured as a soloist and performer by Luminous Voices, Cowtown Opera, Early Music Voices, the Calgary Bach Society, and the Pro Arts Society, among others. Praised for her “wonderfully clear and expressive” singing (Calgary Herald), she has also appeared as a soloist with several orchestras including the Kantorei Academy Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and most recently with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in their Bach@Knox Festival.

Hannah is also an avid participant of Calgary’s choral scene. In addition to singing with Luminous Voices, Hannah sings with the Christ Church choir and is the soprano section principal of the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. Other highlights include two solo recitals in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, participating in the Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Germany, and performing Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate with the CPO as a finalist in the RBC Concerto Competition at the University of Calgary, from which she holds a degree in Linguistics.

KATIE PARTRIDGE

Katie Partridge received her vocal training at the University of Calgary and the Banff Centre for the Arts and studied early music with The Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier, Suzie LeBlanc, and Peter Phillips. She was a founding member of the Early Music Consort of Calgary, with whom she released two recordings. Katie spent three seasons with the Elmer Iseler Singers and, while living in Toronto, performed with the Amadeus Choir, Sine Nomine, and worked with conductors Helmut Rilling and Tonu Kallujste.

She has been a core member of Luminous Voices since 2012 and is featured on their recordings Mendelssohn’s Te Deum and The Far West.  Katie was the soprano soloist in Luminous Voices’ performances of Togni’s Responsio with engagements in both Calgary and Edmonton, and has performed as feature soloist with the Calgary Renaissance Singers and Players. In 2018/19, Ms. Partridge will take part in performances with Early Music Alberta.