ChandraTala, under the direction of Laura Hawley, was founded in September 2019 and is the newest ensemble of the Kokopelli Choirs (Scott Leithead, Artistic Director). An upper voices choir for experienced soprano and alto singers of any gender identity, the choir’s Sanskrit name translates “rhythm of the moon.” 

The choir has performed with the Canadian Chamber Choir, Ariose Women’s Choir, collaborated with local Edmonton musicians, premiered several new Canadian works, and performed with singer-songwriter Maddie Storvold and Bella Voce in the SkirtsAfire festival in 2020.  During the period from March 2020 to June 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic isolation period, ChandraTala participated in the Sonic Timelapse project, commissioned two new works by Canadian female composers, and pursued a flexible but rich season of workshops with composers and clinicians, small group and virtual choir projects, including a cross-Canada virtual choir collaboration with six of Canada’s top upper-voices/women’s ensembles. The choir continues to perform and collaborate throughout the community, pursue diverse repertoire, and work with clinicians locally and nationally.