About

Musique Royale is honoured to welcome the Canadian Chamber Choir back to Lunenburg for “Where Waters Meet” a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Chamber Choir. Canada’s only professional choir with national representation, the Canadian Chamber Choir has ties originating in Nova Scotia, with the core singers having met as members of the National Youth Choir of Canada at a performance in Wolfville. The choir will be joined by Cree-Dene composer/singer/drummer Sherryl Sewepagaham for this performance, and we will hear some of their favourites from over the years and will be joined by special guests and some alumni joining in. Join Musique Royale on Saturday August 9 at 7 pm, at historic St John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg for this choral celebration!

About the Artists

Canadian Chamber Choir

The JUNO-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir (CCC) is Canada’s only professional choir with national representation. Led by Julia Davids (Artistic Director) and Joel Tranquilla (Associate Conductor), it is comprised of singers from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia to the Northwest Territories. The CCC creates, celebrates and communicates Canadian identity through choral performance and education, and it is passionate about building community through choral singing. Their Summer 2025 tour celebrates 25 years of performances and community outreach; as well as the recent release of an album, Where Waters Meet, in collaboration with Cree-Dene artist Sherryl Sewepagaham – a unique musical reflection of a multi-year journey together. For more information about the Canadian Chamber Choir, please visit canadianchamberchoir.ca.

Sherryl Sewepagaham

Sherryl Sewepagaham, a dynamic Cree-Dene artist from Little Red River Cree Nation, Northern Alberta, blends her heritage with artistry, composition, and education. She is a doctoral student in ethnomusicology and devoted over two decades to music education from kindergarten to grade 6, infusing Indigenous musical traditions. Her compositions enrich Cree narratives celebrated in national choir commissions and international performances with the acclaimed trio, Asani.

Julia Davids, Artistic Director

A founding member of the Canadian Chamber Choir and its Artistic Director since 2003, Dr. Julia Davids has led the ensemble on concert and workshop tours of every province, and conducted four recordings including their Juno-nominated 2015 release, Sacred Reflections. Born in London, Ontario, she grew up singing in the Amabile Youth Singers, the Ontario Youth Choir, and the National Youth Choir, for whom she was the first Apprentice Conductor. She is currently the Stephen J. Hendrickson Professor and Director of Choral Activities at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of choral conductors and committed to giving emerging and established Canadian composers a forum for their work.

Joel Tranquilla, Associate Conductor

Dr. Joel Tranquilla is a conductor and music educator noted for his versatile musicianship and creative programming. Associate Conductor of the Canadian Chamber Choir since 2015, Joel also recently returned home to the Maritimes to assume the positions of Artistic Director of the Halifax Camerata Singers and Chorus Master of Symphony Nova Scotia. Formative choral experiences include touring with the American Boychoir as a boy soprano and singing as a member of the Nova Scotia and National Youth Choirs. He holds degrees from Mount Allison University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University where his doctoral research was in the area of Canadian choral-orchestral works.