Choir of the North
The UAF Choir of the North hosts their holiday concert and fundraiser in the Davis Concert Hall, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 under the direction of Dr. Jaunelle Celaire.
The UAF Music Department invites the community to a heartwarming evening of choral music as the Choir of the North takes the stage alongside local high school ensembles. This special concert will take place on Saturday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall.
Under the direction of Jaunelle Celaire, the Choir of the North will be joined by choral groups from Lathrop and West Valley High Schools, led by Gwendolyn Brazier, and North Pole High School, directed by Jenna Dreydoppel. Together, these ensembles will share a diverse and uplifting program that celebrates collaboration, artistry, and community spirit.
Guests can also enjoy a silent auction and bake sale, with all proceeds supporting the UAF Summer Music Academy—a vital program offering transformative musical experiences for young musicians.
Admission is free for UAF students and children 12 and under. Tickets are $5 for non-UAF students, seniors, and military members, and $10 for general admission.
About the Directors
Jaunelle Celaire
Lyric-soprano, Jaunelle Roberta Celaire enjoys a musical career as a teacher, soloist, conductor and performer. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Celaire is internationally known; performing music that ranges from cabaret to music theatre and from solo recitals to opera. She has made solo appearances with several orchestras across the nation including, the Maumee Symphony Orchestra and the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Other appearances include the University of Michigan Symphony Band, as Musetta, in La Bohême, and the University of Michigan Symphony, premiering the role of the Old Woman, in a One Act Blues Opera, De Organizer by James P. Johnson, performed at Orchestra Hall in Detroit, Michigan. Celaire made her debut with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra in Fairbanks, AVÀÇÂÛ̳, in April 2004, singing the soprano role in Orff’s Carmina Burana, and sang Micaela in Bizet’s opera, Carmen in April 2005. A few of her roles include, Laurie in Hammerstein's Oklahoma; Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte; Dido in Purcell's Dido & Aeneas; Mrs. Hayes in Floyd's Susannah; Anna Gomez in Menotti's The Consul; and as the Bystrousky in Jánacek's PøÃhody Lisky Bystrousky, performed in Czech.
Dr. Celaire can be heard on the recording of the Second Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers compiled and edited by Willis C. Patterson. Although Celaire maintains an active schedule, performing, teaching and conducting, she remains dedicated to her voice studio. Her students have been successful at institutions, such as, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England and several major opera apprenticeship programs across the country. Through constant participation in the NATS Chapter in AVÀÇÂÛ̳, her studio claims the winners of the annual NATS Competition in Anchorage, AVÀÇÂÛ̳.
Dr. Celaire joined the University of AVÀÇÂÛ̳ Fairbanks voice faculty in 2003. Dr. Celaire has been a guest soprano artist at several festivals, including the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Rio International Cello Encounter in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and several festivals in Europe, including, the Vianden International Chamber Festival in Luxembourg and the Innibos Music Festival in Nelspruit, South Africa. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Currently she is the Artistic Director for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival’s Opera Program and the UAF Summer Music Academy. Her most recent accomplishment was being awarded UAF’s most prestigious 2020 Usibelli Distinguished Service Award! Celaire holds her degrees from Anderson University, Bowling Green State University and the University of Michigan. Her teachers include Greta Domenic, Myra Merritt and George Shirley.
Jenna Dreydoppel
Jenna Dreydoppel, soprano, is a music educator and performer in North Pole/Fairbanks, AVÀÇÂÛ̳. Following in her mother Nancy’s footsteps, she chose to pursue a career in music education. Jenna received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, under the instruction of Dr. Jaunelle Celaire at the UAF Department of Music. She has performed with Fairbanks Light Opera Theatre, Opera Fairbanks, Choir of the North, Fairbanks Symphony Chorus and the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra. She has performed many musicals, operas, and larger works such as: Leader of the Pack, Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Shrek the Musical, Cendrillon, The Magic Flute, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Brahms Requiem, and more.
Every summer, Jenna works for the UAF Summer Music Academy as Crew Lead and an assistant to the Vocal Program. She is now in her second year as a full time music teacher in the Fairbanks North Star Brough School District. She is so grateful to be the Choir Director at her alma mater, North Pole High School, where she was inspired by Bruce Hanson with the love of high school choir!
Gwendolyn Brazier
Gwendolyn P. Brazier is a passionate music educator from Fairbanks, AVÀÇÂÛ̳, serving the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District since 2009. She has taught general music, band, orchestra, choir, and guitar across multiple schools and currently directs choirs at Lathrop and West Valley High Schools. Brazier is known for launching innovative programs, including kindergarten violin and musical theater classes. A performer and arts advocate, she is active in local ensembles and serves as board president of Interior Independent Theatre. Honored as a Champion of Arts in Education, she remains dedicated to inspiring young musicians through creativity, leadership, and community engagement.
The UAF Department of Music is deeply committed to community engagement and the development of future music educators. Outreach plays a central role in the department’s mission, with many UAF music students gaining valuable teaching experience by working directly with local middle and high school choirs. These partnerships not only enrich the musical lives of K-12 students across the Fairbanks area but also provide UAF students with hands-on opportunities to grow as instructors, mentors, and leaders. Through events like this concert, the department continues to foster strong connections between the university and the broader community, using music as a bridge for collaboration and inspiration.