Come Join Us — All Are Welcome
- We welcome all with and without Nordic heritage who have a desire to be a part of a choral group that explores Nordic languages and choral music.
- There is no formal audition…only a basic vocal skill and a desire to actively participate and grow in our community as a vocal/choral musician and experience Nordic music and languages.
- In addition, we have native speakers and language experts on hand to coach us on pronunciation, so no previous Nordic language experience is necessary.
Rehearsals
- Winter/spring rehearsals begin again Monday January 15, 2024! For updates, please contact us if you are not already on our member email list and follow our Facebook page.
- 7-9 PM Monday Evenings
- Rehearsal Location: Finley-Sunset Hills, 6801 SW Sunset Hwy, Portland, OR 97225. Finley Sunset Hills has been very kind and generous in opening up their facility to our weekly rehearsals — free of charge.
- Soup Suppers: on the first Monday of each rehearsal month begins with a delicious home-cooked soup, salad and bread supper at 6PM before rehearsal begins at 7PM, for $5.
- Contact us with any questions, or let us know if you intend to check us out!
Rehearsal/Concert Expectations
Regular attendance at every rehearsal is important. Our expectation is that singers would attend at least 85% of the rehearsals. (That is missing an average of less than 1 for every 5.) It is also our expectation that if you are rehearsing with us, you will sing in the Nordic Christmas Celebration and Spring Concert; and then join us for as many as possible of the other performances.
If you are going to miss a rehearsal, please check in/make contact with our membership team so that we know you will be missing.
If you are going to miss multiple rehearsals, please talk to the director to discuss circumstances. If you are going to miss quite a few, you might consider taking a leave of absence until the next concert season when you can attend more.
Please plan on attending the last rehearsals leading up to our concerts. Especially the Dress Rehearsals, which are the last Monday evening rehearsal before Christmas and Spring Concerts.
Call-Times & Events
- Warmups (call times) for performances are one hour before we are scheduled to sing — but only a half hour early on Christmas morning.
- Concert schedule with times and locations linked to google maps are on our Concerts & Events page.
Song Pronunciation Audio Files to Help You Learn
We sing in beautiful nordic languages, and to help you learn how to produce those native sounds, find on our song Pronunciation page the latest audio files created for you to practice your current songs. On that page at the bottom, there are also links to video pronunciation guides for you to watch people speak the basic sounds of each language.
Annual Membership Dues
- $50 per term (fall and spring) or $100 per year; please make your check payable to: Portland Nordic Chorus
- Dues help us finance the purchase of new music and support our director and accompanist
We LOVE Our Volunteers — Please Consider Helping
- Join us with liking and sharing our Facebook posts, administration tasks, filing music, baking or selling bread, copying or posting fliers, acquiring donations for our annual silent auction at our spring concert, and helping set up or break down for events.
- For more information on volunteering, please email Alana or call 503-706-9882.
Help Promote the Chorus
- Like us on Facebook and share our posts with your Facebook friends
- Invite your friends and family to sing with us and/or volunteer!
- Help promote our performances by distributing the fliers when they are available on the website or handed out.
- Got ideas? Feel free to talk to Karen Henell.
STAFF
Artistic Director Bill 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.
We LOVE Our Accompanist
Karl Jurisons, Accompanist