Tracy Fehr's Biography

Tracy Fehr is a classically trained soloist who desires to validate women and particularly, women in music and the arts, locally and on a global level.

Tracy's music reflects classical elements as well as her interest in Jazz, Celtic styles, and Middle-Eastern influences. Her solo music blends original songs and jazzy traditional with Classical repertoire. Active as a clinician in vocal pedagogy and singing technique, Tracy performs frequently as vocalist with an Okanagan chamber ensemble, Masterworks Ensemble, and with a three to four-piece band including piano/keyboard, violin/viola, bass guitar, and percussion (drums, djembe drum, harmonicas).

Tracy has been featured on HGTV's Makeover Wish: Something to Sing About, local television (CHBC and Shaw TV) and on CBC radio, has performed frequently with the University of Alberta Symphony orchestra, and has held concerts at many other venues across western Canada and Ontario, and recently in Central America. As an experienced vocal instructor at the Penticton Academy of Music, Tracy focuses on the holistic approach to singing: healthy vocal production, understanding the support mechanism, the emotional and spiritual elements of singing, and individual direction and goals for singers.
Tracy has been vocalist and guest speaker at women's conferences, sharing her own journey of faith and encouraging women to embrace their God-given hopes and dreams, to become passionate about life, and find purpose and fulfillment – encouraging women to find their own voice.

Tracy's Women in Song concert series gives a performing platform to amateur singers while raising funds for projects in third world countries. Past projects have seen funds donated to the Caia Connection’s project for HIV/AIDS orphans in the Caia District of Mozambique, Watoto Child Care Ministries, the Asia Emergency Fund set up by the Mennonite Central Committee, as well as several fundraisers for local Habitat for Humanity projects. On a humanitarian trip to Guazacapan, Guatemala in March, 2008, Tracy was involved in musical projects with the children at Casa Esperanza (safe home for abandoned/neglected children).

Tracy's background is thoroughly entrenched in gospel music. She grew up with the sound of southern gospel quartets and soloists. As a young girl, she blended harmonies with her three musical sisters, and performed with them in the local church. At the age of eleven, she began taking piano lessons and in her early teens she sang at church, school and community events. After high school graduation, she went on to Columbia Bible College where she not only continued piano studies and music theory, but began classical voice training as well. It was after her first year at College that she met and married Ken Fehr. Tracy taught voice and piano at a private studio, maintained her musical studies, and performed as time permitted while keeping up with the demands of a busy family life (they have three children, Tyler, Jessica, and Samuel).

In 1998, the Fehrs moved to Edmonton, Alberta and Tracy enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Alberta. For two years, the family lived at the university's family residence, a multi-cultural compound. Their lives were enriched by this daily interaction with other families from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Without the encumbrances of borders and territory, the Fehrs and their neighbours exchanged ethnic foods, discussed religious beliefs, watched their kids play, and enjoyed a variety of ethnic dance and music through parades, festivals, and celebrations. From this experience, Tracy developed a deepening interest in ethnomusicology, particularly feminist ethnomusicology.

In 2002, the family returned to British Columbia, where Tracy accepted a position as vocal instructor at the Penticton Academy of Music. Tracy recently released a recording project featuring arrangements of traditional spirituals, classical favourites, and original songs that reflect her Classical training and interest in Blues, Celtic styles and Middle-Eastern influences. The underlining theme in this recording project is women’s issues, which is at the heart of Tracy’s vision. Tracy believes that a deep emotional and spiritual connection to the lyrics of her songs is vital to her integrity as an artist. Her original songs and selective choice of classical repertoire reflect her faith and vision.

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance from the University of Alberta and an A.R.C.T. in Singing, Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto.