• Biography
  • Selected Works
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Born in Vancouver, Canada in 1960, Ramona Luengen received both her B.Mus and M.Mus from the University of British Columbia where she studied composition with Cortland Hultberg and piano with Jane Coop. In 1996 she completed her Doctor of Music in Composition from the University of Toronto. Luengen has composed extensively in the choral genre and has been commissioned and recorded by Canada’s finest choirs as well as the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Her works have been performed in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand by artists and ensembles such as Judith Forst, Jane Coop, Sally Dibblee, CBC Radio Orchestra, Chanticleer, Choeur de femmes Calliope (France), Chor Leoni, Coro El León de Oro (Spain), Elektra Women’s Choir, Elora Festival Singers, musica intima, National Youth Choirs of Canada, Phoenix Chamber Choir, San Francisco Girls’ Chorus and Toronto Children’s Choir.
Selected works​​
  • How the Blossoms are Falling - SSAA and piano. This lush and beautiful compositon by Luengen was written in memory of Diane Loomer's time spent co-directing the Elektra Women's Choir​. It begins a capella as the divisi womens chorus sings texts by Canadian poet Joy Kogawa, until the piano enters about two minutes through the piece to add another bed of sound to the writing. This beautifully emotive and sensitive work would be perfect for festival and concert performance.
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  • ​Frühlingslied - SATB divisi, a capella. This piece, reminiscent of romantic-era German works such as that of Brahms, makes use of bouncing lines and clever text-painting much like works of that time did. With German text written by Rainer Maria Rilke, a favourite of Luengen's, this piece would be most comfortable for experienced and professional adult choirs and vocal ensembles.
As well as being a composer, Ramona was also the Artistic Director of Vancouver's Phoenix Chamber Choir, resigning in 2012. She also conducts the Shaughnessy Heights United Church Choir and the Amabilis Singers, which she has led since 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Luengen is also a former instructor of UBC and Simon Fraser University where she has taught theory, choir, composition, and contemporary music courses.