HART, Stella Claire Ter

Stella Claire ter Hart is a Canadian composer, educator, adjudicator, choral director and accompanist. She is directly descended from the Italian composer, Tomaso Vitali, and has many other musical family members and ancestors.

Ms ter Hart is the winner of numerous composition competitions including the Diva Complex Composition Contest, winner of the Pacific International Song Writing Competition (New Zealand), co-winner of the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Competition and winner of the Lirit Chamber Choir New Music competition. She was a Finalist in the 2023 Japan International Choral Composition Competition and received Honourable Mention in the 2023 Chronos Vocal Ensemble Choral Composition Competition. Stella's work, "The Maiden's Heart" was chosen as the 1st place winner in the 2025 London Choral Sinfonia Christmas Carol Competition, and received its world premiere in London, England, on December 18, 2025. "A Voice In The World" was a winner in the Michigan Choral Lab "Songs Of Protest" Choral Competition and premiered in the United States in February, 2026. Also in 2026, Stella had a work chosen to be part of the Elmer Eisler Singers new music reading sessions, and her elusive, ethereal work, "Poppies", for SSA choir and piano, was awarded 2nd place in the Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir Choral Composition Competition.

She has accompanied some of Canada’s best opera voices including Measha Bruegergosman, Stewart Howe, Cicela Mannson, Bruno Cormier, Monette Gould, and Cindy Townsend. She has been commissioned by CBC Radio 2, Symphony New Brunswick, the Indian River Festival, as well as professional musicians and groups. Stella adores playing for choirs and soloists; she has the soul of a singer and as an accompanist instinctively shadows and enhances the singer’s every breath and phrase. Ms. terHart has conducted choirs and bands and maintained a large, private piano studio for many years.

Stella’s choral compositions have been performed throughout North America and as far away as Australia, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, China, Spain, Brazil, Peru and the United Kingdom.​ She is a member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers (ACWC), Choral Canada, and Choirs Ontario, is a member of the board of the Association of Canadian New Music (ACNMP) and is a past member of the National Music Festival Adjudicator’s Association.