Tonya Wind Singer is a composer, conductor, singer, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist from Arizona, USA. Her composition work is rooted in her cultural background, American Indian (O’odham) and Mexican, and as a singer of both Mariachi and Powwow music, she brings those musical cultural influences into her works. Her work is primarily in wind band, orchestral, and choral works but also includes folk rock and Latin American music. In addition to concert music, she is also an indie songwriter.
Tonya began taking piano lessons at the age of 10 and then clarinet and saxophone at the age of 12. She began composing in high school and studied composition at California State University, Los Angeles. During this time she continued playing in orchestras and wind bands and studied conducting. She continued her composition studies at The Boston Conservatory and received her Master of Music Degree in composition.
She joined the Charles River Wind Ensemble as a percussionist and was a regular member between 2013 and 2017. Since 2013, she has been a powwow singer with various drums in the powwow circuit. Tonya worked as an apprentice composer under Brent Michael Davids for the documentary “Lake of Betrayal” on PBS. She composed and arranged several works for Kirchenchor der Wallfahrtskirche St. Jakobus maj. choir and orchestra in Biberbach, Germany. She also worked as an editor, engraver, and collaborator in projects recorded by the London Chamber Orchestra and Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tonya continued bringing the worlds of Native music and classical concert music together with her 2017 piece "First Light" for the Cape Symphony, featuring a Wampanoag song sung by Wampanoag singer and historian Jonathan James Perry.
Tonya continues to work as a freelance composer, conductor, and instrumentalist based in the southwest US.
Tonya’s amazing new work, “Wampanoag: Stories for All Time,” performed by Jonathan James Perry, will have its world premiere at the Cape Symphony’s Mayflower and Beyond event on November 13th and 14th. For more information and to purchase tickets for Mayflower and Beyond, visit capesymphony.org, call the Box Office at 508-362-1111, or visit 1060 Falmouth Road in Hyannis, MA. The Cape Symphony Box Office is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
