Stella terHart

Stella Claire terHart

was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan on January 31, 1960 and is directly descended from the composer/violinist, Tomaso Vitali. At age 17, she was the first winner of the University of Regina Concerto Competition, and won numerous awards at local and Provincial Music Festivals in flute and piano.  At present, she is the only individual in Canada to have received all four degrees from the Toronto Conservatory of Music: Teachers, Performers, Composition and Theory.  Her teachers include Mary Murakami, Lyell Gustin, Bill Moore, Marilyn Engle and Jane Schudel (flute).  Her Theory and Composition work at the Royal Conservatory of Music was overseen by Dr. Anthony Dawson and John Beckwith.

Since 1982, Ms. terHart has taught music in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick.  Stella greatly enjoys adjudicating music festivals and has adjudicated festivals in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.  From 1997 - 2002 she was the Head of Music at Rothesay Netherwood School, where she taught classroom music for Grades 6 - 12, directed the Junior and Senior Bands as well as the Senior Jazz Ensemble, Middle School Chorus and Senior Girls Choir.    All of these experiences greatly contribute to Ms. terHart's work as a composer of music and resources for young performers.

Her performance career has included being the official accompanist and recitateur for Opera New Brunswick in their productions of the Marriage of Figaro, La Bohème and Carmen, as well as performing numerous concerts and recitals with various soloists.  She has accompanied internationally famous singers, including Measha Brueggergosman, Stuart Howe, Wendy Nielson and Cindy Townsend.  

As a composer, Ms. terHart has works published in the United States (Treble Clef Press) and Canada (Frederick Harris Music Publishing Co., Contemporary Showcase, CFMTA Diamond Jubilee Collection, Oceanna Music), is commissioned regularly and heard on CBC radio.  Stella was the 1st place winner (instrumental category) of the 2005 Pacific International Song Writing Competition in New Zealand for her flute and piano work, "as the light shimmers".  She was the only Canadian composer to win any of the categories. Her work "In a Corner of the Stable" can be heard on the newly released CD "Chestnuts & Sugarplums" available through www.oceannamusic.com.  She is a member of the International Association of Women Composers (IAWM), the Association of Canadian Women Composers (ACWC), SOCAN, the Canadian Music Festivals Adjudicators Association (CMFAA) and is the editor of the national journal of the ACWC.  The mother of three children, also wonderful musicians, Ms. terHart presently lives in Ontario, Canada. 

HOME