Jennifer Turner is a classically trained soprano with a diverse repertoire that ranges from Baroque, Classical, and Romantic through to avant-garde and Musical Theatre. She earned her M. Mus from the University of Manitoba under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl as well as a Diploma in Music and AVCM in Vocal Pedagogy from the Victoria Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Ingrid Attrot and Nancy Argenta.
As a voice teacher, Jennifer welcomes students of all levels, ages, and abilities to explore singing in a safe and supportive environment. Students will be encouraged to discover their unique sound and full vocal potential through a healthy singing technique based on body resonance and vocal freedom. Jennifer encourages her students to develop a musical curiosity and strong emotional connection to the text and to aim for genuine and engaged performances. Students will develop these skills through an interdisciplinary approach to singing that draws on vocal technique, musical interpretation, textual analysis and interpretation, body awareness, and performance techniques. Jennifer is happy to mentor students and work towards specific goals including RCM exams, festivals, auditions, or upcoming concerts. She also enjoys working with choristers who are looking to gain confidence in their singing and musical abilities.
As a performer, Jennifer is in demand as a concert soloist throughout Western Canada with engagements by Victoria Baroque, the Okanagan Festival Singers, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Opera Kelowna, Manitoba Underground Opera, the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, the Salt Spring Chamber Orchestra and Choir, the Linden Singers, the Victoria Civic Orchestra and the Cowichan Consort. Jennifer has appeared regularly with Pacific Opera Victoria in recital and on the mainstage where she performed the role of Donna/Siren in Handel’s Rinaldo in 2018. Jennifer has also received extensive operatic training through the Victoria Conservatory of Music Opera Studio including her role as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte under the stage direction of Glynis Leyshon and Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia and the role of Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with stage director Julie McIsaac and Maestro Timothy Vernon. Jennifer had the wonderful opportunity to tour with Canadian baritone, Gino Quilico, along with collaborative pianist Robert Holliston for a lecture concert of opera excerpts representing historical Canadian singers.
Jennifer has been generously supported by the British Columbia Arts Council through an Early Career Development Grant, Professional Development Grants, and Scholarship Awards. She also received a prestigious SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship to complete an MA in Cultural Studies where she researched the disciplining effects of singing technique on the body. Jennifer has a strong interest in bringing critical perspectives into classical music.