BIO (177 words)
Inspired by her own profound musical journey, Dr. Cara Tasher strives to instill a similar passion for excellence in her students, fostering it alongside an essential appreciation for different cultures. Her robust international and domestic engagements—spanning over 10 states and 20 countries—includes preparing choirs, conducting choral festivals, adjudicating singing competitions, and presenting singing research. Proficient in several languages, she brings a globally informed perspective to her work. Under her dedicated leadership at UNF since 2006, her students regularly collaborate with top professionals and tour internationally. Guided by Dr. Tasher, students frequently collaborate with leaders in the field. The international choral profile at UNF includes performance exchanges in Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, and South Africa, along with conferences in Argentina, Denmark, Korea, and Türkiye. Dr. Tasher’s mentorship ensures that current students and alumni continue to thrive, with many alums involved professionally in organizations such as Chanticleer, the San Francisco Opera Chorus, and the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Cara’s foundational work as a singer and conductor includes The Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, La Sorbonne, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Texas at Austin, and Northwestern University.
BIO (264 words)
Cara Tasher has been directing the choral program at the University of North Florida since 2006, bringing years of performance and recording experience with leading musicians to her role. A lifelong musician, she began her choral experience at the age of eight. Prior to her tenure at UNF, she performed and recorded with conductors Abbado, Barenboim, Eschenbach, Levine, Shaw and Solti, and was associated with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Conspirare, Jacksonville Symphony, Trinity Choir-Wall Street, Xavier University, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Proficient in several languages, Tasher's engagements as a conductor, presenter, and adjudicator have carried her throughout the USA and around the globe to more than 20 countries for concerts, competitions, all-state choirs, and workshops. A strong advocate for cultural and global competency, she collaborated frequently as directora huésped of Mexico City's professional Coro del Teatro de Bellas Artes. International invitations include the 2014 World Symposium of Choral Music in Seoul, Korea, the Singapore International Choral Festival in 2019, and Europa Cantat's 2022 Leading Voices initiative in the Netherlands. She has served on state, national and international choral festival and competition juries. Her studies took place at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), UT-Austin, Paris IV-La Sorbonne, and Northwestern University. Cara is past-president of the Florida Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and a member of International Federation of Choral Music and the National Collegiate Choral Organization. At UNF, Dr. Tasher conducts the Chamber Singers, Osprey Treble Chorus, teaches the graduate conducting curriculum, and oversees the choral program and the student leadership team. Online COVID19 collaborations include Sing Around The gloBe, an international endeavor, and Messiah on the Move, a video version of their frequently staged choral concerts. She has received many awards and grants at the university for initiatives including Jacksonville SINGS! September Choral Invitational, World Chorus, and Summer Choral Arts Program (July 8-11, 2026), featuring conducting training for professionals and summer singing for community singers.