Ryan Henwood | Principal Conductor

Ryan Henwood is a Halifax-based composer, conductor, arts administrator and choral singer. Ryan is currently the Principal Conductor of Polaris and the Program coordinator at the Nova Scotia Choral Federation. 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. 

In addition to conducting Polaris, Ryan is also an active choral singer in the Halifax community. Ryan currently sings with the Halifax Camerata Singers as well as Eastern Horizon. ​

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Rebecca McCauley | Associate Conductor

Rebecca (she/her/hers) is a graduate of Dalhousie University where she holds a combined honours degree in Music and Theatre. At Dalhousie, she studied voice with Marcia Swanston and sang in the Dalhousie Chorus under the direction of Christina Murray.

​Some of her past performance credits include: Ensemble in Fatty Legs (Xara Choral Theatre), Robin in Godspell (U.S. National Tour), Luisa in The Fantasticks (VPP) and Pamina in The Magic Flute (Dal Opera). Rebecca is excited by the possibilities choral singing creates for social change, and feels grateful to work with a group that actively explores these possibilities through ensemble work and discussion. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music Education as a second degree through Memorial University of Newfoundland. ​​

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Nelle Callanan | Associate Conductor

Nelle Callanan is a music teacher and choral singer. She holds Music and Music Education degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland. During her time in St. John's, she was a choral scholar with Shallaway Youth Choir, and twice she represented NL in the National Youth Choir of Canada. Since returning to Halifax, Nelle has taught elementary and middle school music at the Halifax Independent School. She has been a member of various choirs in Halifax including Vox, Eastern Horizon, and the choir at St. George's Round Church. Nelle has been a board member for Choirs for Change and for the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, and during her summers has served as the NSCF's Junior Choir Camp Director. Recently, Nelle spent a year of study at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. Nelle has offered professional developments workshops through the Kodály Society of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Music Educators' Association.​

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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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