JESSA is an SSA vocal ensemble dedicated to challenging and beautiful choral music.
Our values
Whether you’re listening to us or singing with us, here’s what you can expect, every time.
Musicality
We sing a wide range of challenging music, from early to modern composers. Our interpretations surprise and delight.
Rigour
We take our craft seriously. Rehearsals are fast-paced and we expect the best from each other. We seek the fulfilment that comes from hard work. Our performances are an expression of our commitment to quality and beauty.
Community
We sing with passion within a group of highly committed choristers. We constantly challenge ourselves to give our best. Through focussed work as an ensemble, we aim to create powerful experiences for our audiences.
Fun
We bring a sense of play to our hard work. Although we take our craft seriously, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Our music brings joy to us, and to our audiences.
It all began on an island …
JESSA is a brand new ensemble, founded in 2022. But our story begins years earlier.
Musical director and conductor Jane Edwards has a strong choral background, having grown up in her father’s church choir, where she sang even prior to commencing school. Growing up in Launceston, she then headed to Hobart, studying at the flourishing Conservatorium there, under the powerful leadership of Jan Sedivka and Graeme Buchanan. Jane enrolled in a double major, as a talented young pianist, and emerging soprano.
Progressing to a highly successful solo singing career, much of Jane’s early professional experience involved ensemble singing, particularly as a long standing member of The Song Company, Australia’s most renowned vocal group. With them she toured both nationally and internationally for five years. Additionally, she was a member of Dr Michael Noone’s Australian Chamber Singers, and The Australian Bach Ensemble, a featured group at Jonathan Mills’ 2000 Melbourne Festival.
After two decades as a Sydney based singer and lecturer, including many years on staff at Sydney Conservatorium, the arrival of a late life baby (Gracie, who now sings in JESSA and is a member of Gondwana Chorale) encouraged Jane to return to the quieter life in Tasmania. Following on from many student success stories in Sydney, Jane has continued to work with a range of talented students in Hobart, and each year a number spread their wings to study at interstate institutions including WAAPA, Griffith University, Sydney Conservatorium and The Victorian College of the Arts. Tasmania has proved a fertile training ground for many singers now working throughout the country.
Jane has been inspired by the many outstanding soprano and alto voices here in Hobart, and seeing an opportunity to create a serious classical choir for them, founded this exciting new group, JESSA.
JESSA is made up of voices ranging in age from early teens to mid-60s. It’s a space where soprano and alto voices can thrive. Choristers are led by Jane and accompanied by a pianist in rehearsals, and their combined energies help the group to make significant progress in each session. Choristers are drawn to the fun and commitment of the group, and the chance to evolve as musicians.
The members get along fantastically. JESSA choristers are a generous and open-hearted bunch, with a desire to share knowledge and make high quality music together. Younger singers introduce new material and ideas, and senior choristers pass on wisdom from years of choral experience. Members are a mix of keen choral singers and high level soloists, who work together in the spirit of quest and achievement. There is a strong sense of love, support and community within the group.
JESSA’s first performance, at Festival of Voices 2022, was clearly the start of something very special. Following this, their first JESSA subscription concert in October, Spring Sing, heralded the group as a new and vibrant presence in the Tasmanian classical music scene.
Our future
With every rehearsal, we’re learning, growing, and evolving as a group of singers. We have welcomed several new choristers and are continually adding depth and variety to our repertoire. Sarah Chick, a talented young pianist recently graduated from the University of Tasmania’s Conservatorium of Music, has joined JESSA for our rehearsals and performances in 2024.
Now in our third year, JESSA will have a range of performances across our 2024 season.
Mark your calendar with our upcoming shows.