Polaris Choir

Polaris

Polaris is an adult community choir led by Ryan Henwood and Angela Chu. The ensemble rehearses on Monday nights, and is characterized by diverse, mid to high level choral repertoire, and in-depth reflection on social change topics. Polaris is suited for folks who come to the ensemble with pre-existing choir experience and foundational understandings of social justice practices, but is open to anyone who is interested. The choir is supported by section leaders, social dialogue coordinators, a collaborative pianist, and administrative coordinator. Polaris is the flagship ensemble for Choirs for Change, and it performs regularly in community events such as marches, rallies, and festivals.

Polaris performs five to six times per season, and membership ranges between 60-80 members at any given time. For more information on joining Polaris, click here. Please note that Polaris is currently accepting lower voices (tenors, baritones, and basses) and has a waiting list for upper voices (sopranos and altos).

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.

Angela Chu | Collaborative Pianist

Angela Chu is a pianist, music educator, and vocal coach working across various music and dance settings in Halifax. After completing her ARCT in Piano Performance, she went on to work with several community and church choirs, both as accompanist and director. She later moved to Ireland to study music, graduating from University College Cork in 2023. Angela is a recent MA Musicology graduate from the Fountain School of Performing Arts, where she blended her background in criminology with her knowledge of music, exploring the benefits that choral singing has for those who are incarcerated. Angela currently maintains a busy schedule working in arts administration and the performing arts, all while growing her private music studio here in Halifax.

Polaris

Ryan Henwood | Principal Conductor

Angela Chu | Collaborative Pianist

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