October 6, 2021
Our chorus has indeed been blessed with great talent in musical leadership. Special thanks to our outgoing Artistic Director Emeritus Vance Sele for taking time to orient and encourage two new Artistic Directors in the past two years since his retirement!
Evan Miles first stepped into Vance’s huge shoes in June of 2020 and led us through our first virtual project with the recording of Sankta Lucia released in December 2020. In late spring 2021 Evan had to leave his post as Artistic Director to take care of two ill family members. We applaud Evan’s dedication to caretaking and thank him for working with us through the first year of the new Pandemic Reality.
Bill Kuhn offered to step up as our next Artistic Director in June of 2021 and we are delighted to welcome his expertise and kindness into our fold. Although the increased danger of viral transmission with the Delta variant has quashed our hopes for in-person rehearsals and performances this fall, we look forward to Bill’s leadership through whatever projects we are able to participate in approaching this 2021 holiday season and next spring.
Dr. William F. Kuhn
Dr. William F. Kuhn has been involved with conducting choirs and bands from his sophomore year in high school. During his professional career, which spans nearly 45 years, he has taught and sung in a variety of groups in Chicago, Hong Kong, Nebraska and, most recently, the Pacific Northwest.
Kuhn received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois in 1977; his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in 1985; and his Doctor of Education degree in music education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2000. He and his ensembles have given concerts in over twenty-five states and embarked on a three-week concert tour to China in 2007 at the request of the Chinese Government.
In 1985 he was inducted into the Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national, music honor society. He is included in Marquis Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. In addition to his work with the Portland Nordic Chorus, Kuhn is Parish Cantor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Portland, Past-Dean of the Portland Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and Past-President of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians’ Region 4. Bill and his wife, Kristine, have two children—Michael and Elizabeth.