meet the edmonton youth & children’s CHoirs team

Samara Bortz

EYCC Artistic & Executive Director
Youth Choir Conductor

Samara is a dynamic choral conductor, singer, and music educator, originally from Vancouver, BC, but now proud to call Edmonton home. Before moving to Edmonton, Samara was the founder and Artistic Director of the Crescent Choirs, helping grow the organization from a single choir of 25 singers to six different ensembles with more than 150 singers across all ages and levels.

Samara is known for creating a rehearsal atmosphere that allows her singers to grow as musicians, as well as empathetic community members and confident leaders. As a conductor, she is committed to creating choral artistry while embracing the joyful human connection that comes from singing with others. 

Samara holds a Bachelor of Music in voice performance from Mount Allison University, a Master of Arts in historical musicology from UBC and a Master of Music degree in choral conducting, also from UBC. 

Samara has sung with a number of acclaimed choral ensembles such as UBC’s University Singers, Vancouver’s Phoenix Chamber Choir, and Edmonton’s Pro Coro Canada. In her non-choir life, Samara also runs her own website and brand design business for creative entrepreneurs and small businesses.