Chicago native and member of Chicago’s Henry Hendricks Weddington School for the Performing Arts Vocal Arts Ensemble since 2006, opera singer Tierra Whetstone-Christian has apprenticed and performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Roderick Dixon, Jared Dixon, Catherine O’Connell, and Kathleen Battle. She enjoys the state of excitement that comes upon others when a song is involved. Tierra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from North Park University, where she studied conducting and voice.

Tierra began her training at Gallery 37, where she appeared in numerous productions. She has collaborated with the Chicago Opera Theater for teens, the Chicago Fringe Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus, and has sung the national anthem at U.S. Cellular Field and for the City Club of Chicago. Tierra also enjoys the theater. She has had the privilege to work with Open door theater, ETA theater, and Pegasus theater. In 2013, she was nominated for the Black Theater Alliance award for best supporting actress in a play. In May of 2019, she appeared as a soloist in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the North Shore Choral Society and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.

Also in 2019, grateful and humbled, Tierra performed in an art song festival in Orvieto, Italy, called Orvieto Musica under the direction of Nyela Basney. Tierra was named Assistant Conductor for the Northshore Choral Society last season and is so excited to grow under the mentorship of Dr. Julia Davids. Tierra is also a part of the Adrian Dunn Singers, a well rounded group of all black musicians. The Adrian Dunn singers just finished their seasonal tour and most recently recorded their newest album, Emancipation.