Ryan Henwood | Principal Conductor

Ryan Henwood is a Halifax-based composer, conductor, music educator. Ryan is currently the Artistic Director of Choirs for Change and Principal Conductor of Polaris, and assistant conductor of the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus. Ryan graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Music in Composition in the Spring of 2017 and was the recipient of the University Medal in Music.

​As a composer, Ryan’s main focus is on the creation of new vocal works- in both solo and choral settings. In the summer of 2017, Ryan traveled to Europe to participate in COSI’s inaugural Opera Creation Lab in Sulmona, Italy.  Ryan also competed in the 8th International Antonín Dvořák Composition Competition, where he received the special prize for Best Religious Vocal Piece. In the spring of 2018, Ryan also placed second for his composition, Pulse, in the Eastern Horizon Choral Writing Competition. Ryan has also performed alongside leading choral ensembles including the Halifax Camerata Singers, Eastern Horizon, and two tours with the National Youth Choir of Canada in 2018 and 2022.

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Rebecca McCauley | Associate Conductor

Rebecca McCauley is a music educator, choral conductor and performer based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax.  She is a graduate of Dalhousie University where she holds a combined honours degree in Music and Theatre as well as MUN where she holds a Bachelor of Music Education as a second degree. In addition to her work as an educator conducting, Rebecca has worked as a performer in various regional and touring productions including: Ensemble in Fatty Legs (Xara Choral Theatre), Robin in Godspell (U.S National Tour), Luisa in The Fantasticks (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia), Ruby in The Forest in My Room (Neptune Tour Co.), Vocalist in Singalong Jubilee (The Guild), Pamina in The Magic Flute (Dal Opera), Cathleen in Riders to the Sea (Dal Opera). Rebecca is also the proud co-director of the Halifax Newcomer Choir.

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Adam Johnson | Collaborative Pianist

Adam is a music teacher at Halifax Independent School, where he directs the middle school band, choir, and theory programs. He has a decade of experience as a church organist, including his current position as organist and choir director at Port Wallis United Church. Adam holds a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Miami, a B.A. (Honours) from Bishop's University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Memorial University. He also directs the Club Inclusion Choir, an accessible choir for people of all abilities, and an extension of the Club Inclusion organization. ​

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Past Collaborators

Nelle Callanan | Associate Conductor

Nelle Callanan is a music teacher and choral singer based in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. While studying Music and Music Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland, she was a choral scholar with Shallaway Youth Choir, and twice represented NL in the National Youth Choir of Canada. Since returning to Halifax, Nelle has taught elementary and middle school music at Halifax Independent School. She has been a member of various choirs in Halifax, and has been a board member for Choirs for Change and the Nova Scotia Choral Federation. During her summers, Nelle has served as the NSCF’s Junior Choir Camp Director and Assistant Conductor. Recently, she spent a year of study at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. She has offered professional development workshops through the Kodály Society of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Music Educators’ Association. Nelle has been involved with Choirs for Change since 2019.

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Kathryn Wagner | Collaborative Pianist

Kathryn Wagner grew up on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, and recently graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Music.  While at Dalhousie, she studied with Tietje Zonneveld and Lynn Stodola. In July 2013, Kathryn performed at Government House in Halifax for the inauguration of the new piano with her former teacher and mentor, Sharon Gow-Knickle. Kathryn’s collaborative experiences include accompanying the St. John’s Lutheran Mother Daughter Choir, performing Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Dalhousie Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, twice participating as a Young Artist at the Scotia Festival of Music, and performing as a soloist in Dalhousie’s Concerto Night.  As winner of the 2016 Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association Scholarship Competition, Kathryn performed a concert series throughout the province in early 2017 and subsequently represented Nova Scotia in the 2017 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations’ National Piano Competition. Most recently, Kathryn won the 2018 Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and performed with NSYO later that year.

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