Sonja Bontrager is an accomplished performer, composer, educator and administrator whose experience spans classical, chamber, folk and rock music. Her original indie-pop project, Sonja Sofya, released its debut album, “Patterns We Know” in October 2016, for which she won Best Female Solo Artist at the 11th annual Hometown Heroes Homey Awards. She has performed in rooms like World Cafe Live, Boot & Saddle, The Tin Angel, and The North Star Bar (Philly), Caffe Vivaldi and Pete’s Candy Store (NYC), Club Passim (Boston), Radio Bean (Burlington, VT), The Midtown Scholar (Harrisburg), and The Black Fox (Washington, DC).

Currently Sonja works for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, advocating for better cycling and safer streets for all users. She has worked as Development Associate for The Crossing (Philadelphia, PA) Education Director at the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (Harrisburg, PA), Vice President of Operations at the Susquehanna Chorale (Hershey, PA) and in various capacities for the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia. Sonja received her B.A. of Music from Messiah College (PA), where she studied composition, piano and voice. She has also studied composition with Harold Boatrite and Vocal Behavior Training with Dr. Ray Smolover. [image credit: Elizabeth Thorpe Photography]

Sonja Bontrager

Alto, Board Member, Conductor