Hildegard von Bingen (1098 – 1179) was an abbess, composer, writer, philosopher, and mystic born in Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany. She is considered one of the most influential women in medieval music and is sometimes referred to as the “Sibyl of the Rhine” or “The First Woman of Western Music.” At an early age,… Read more »
Sarah Quartel was born and raised in Great Britain in a family of musicians. A typical day would feature mom singing arias in the kitchen while cooking dinner, and dad, a church choir director, practicing his harpsichord in the basement. Sarah recalls “I think I was eight years old before I realized that having a… Read more »
Mari Esabel Valverde is a Mexican-American composer based in Forth Worth, Texas. Born and raised in Texas, she began studying music at a young age. All her life, Mari has had a passion for foreign languages. As a child, she wanted to study French, but her parents wanted her to understand the language of her… Read more »
Faith Morgan Zimmer is a choral composer, poet, singer, songwriter, illustrator, and pianist based in Minnesota. She has a diverse background in music, having studied both classical and jazz piano as well as voice, choral conducting, and music theory. Faith has childhood memories of sitting down at the piano after dinner and experimenting with musical… Read more »
Elaine Hagenberg is an accomplished pianist and singer who is becoming well-known as a contemporary American composer and arranger of choral music. She was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, and studied at Washington State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and Portland State University, where she earned a Master of… Read more »
Diane Loomer (1940-2012) was a Canadian musician, conductor, and founder of the Elektra Women’s Choir. She was born on July 31, 1940, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her parents were both music lovers, and her mother played the piano and sang in a choir. Manifesting an early aptitude for music, she began taking piano lessons at… Read more »
May 7, 2023 The Canticle Singers of Baltimore Emerging Composers Competition: The Canticle Singers of Baltimore is pleased to announce the Second Annual Emerging Composers Competition, sponsored by Canticle Singers member Sharon McKinley. The winner of the competition will receive a $750 cash award and their composition will be featured at the in-person and live-streamed… Read more »
Sarah Quartel was born and raised in Great Britain in a family of musicians. A typical day would feature mom singing arias in the kitchen while cooking dinner, and dad, a church choir director, practicing his harpsichord in the basement. Sarah recalls “I think I was eight years old before I realized that having a… Read more »
Susan LaBarr is a highly successful composer who, in her composing career of less than a decade, has completed commissions from all over the world. Having grown up with piano lessons and children’s choirs, she attended college as a piano major, and while she was successful, she soon realized that even though she loved music,… Read more »
Song of Miriam Elaine Hagenberg is an accomplished pianist and singer. After earning her degree in music, she began raising her family of four children and composing while at home. Within the last decade, she has become a household word among choral artists, and she composes for a wide range of skill levels. Canticle Singers will be performing… Read more »