Callandra Youngleson

Callandra (Cal) Youngleson is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer and educator originally from South Africa, based in Chicago. She has performed internationally collaborating with some of South Africa and America's greatest jazz and popular musicians. Cal is a proud graduate of the University of North Texas College of Music. She loves the variety, diversity and connection that a life in music can bring. Cal adores performing and collaborating with different musicians and creatives from around the globe and you can catch her performing with some of  Chicago’s brightest musicians in a range of settings from jazz performances and festivals to wedding receptions and private events. She is also a proud member and co-founder of the Somaluna vocal quartet who were featured performers and clinicians on the 2025 Kansas City Jazz Summit and the 2026 Hey Nonny Women's Jazz Festival. Cal is also a voice-over artist and has composed and arranged for award-winning short film, live orchestra, string quartet, meditation music and animation. One of Cal’s main passions is sharing her deep love for music, creativity and empowering others to discover, explore and express their own voice. She is the jazz voice instructor at the Chicago Academy for the Arts and runs her own private teaching studio.