About Callandra Youngleson
Callandra Youngleson is a South African vocalist, composer and educator living in Chicago. She has performed internationally collaborating with some of South Africa and America’s greatest jazz musicians. Callandra is a proud graduate of the University of North Texas College of Music having recently completed her Masters in Jazz Studies. As a member of the award-winning UNT Jazz Singers, Callandra has performed around Texas, Chicago and New York and has collaborated with artists including Kurt Elling, the Swingles, Johnaye Kendrick and Michelle Nicolle.
Callandra is passionate about performing and collaborating with different musicians from around the globe. In 2016, She was selected as the vocalist of the South African Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band being chosen as one of the top 8 young jazz musicians in the country. Callandra also has a diverse range of voice over & studio session experience and works as a freelance composer.
Callandra loves sharing her growing knowledge about liberating vocal technique and expressional creativity and has been a vocal coach at St Mary’s school & WITS University in Johannesburg as well as having recently been a jazz voice teaching fellow at UNT College of Music. She has over 6 years of vocal coaching, ensemble directing and music educational experience and has a passion for sharing her infectious love for music, creativity and finding your own voice. As a teacher, Callandra aspires to bring constant joy and wonder to the learning environment by always embracing a spirit of exploration, curiosity and fun because music is a lifelong love and there is so much to discover.
