Mr. Sele retired as Artistic Director June 2020 after a spring season that ended after nine rehearsals and a Saturday retreat. Our last rehearsal with Vance during his initial directorship was March 9, 2020. He was an immensely helpful participant in our search for a new director throughout the pandemic spring.
Now as former Artistic Director Bill Kuhn and his wife Kris move to Omaha in June 2025 to be near their grandchildren, Vance has graciously returned to lead us on in Fall 2025 and into the future!
A lifelong Oregonian with Minnesota Norwegian (a little Swedish) and Canadian (Icelandic) roots, Mr. Sele retired after 36 years as the High School Choral Director, Choral Teacher, and Guitar Teacher at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. He lives in Hillsboro with his wife Kyle where they enjoy working around the house on endless projects, and spending time with great friends. He is blessed with, and proud of two adult children and two adult step-children, all of whom live active, positive lives in Portland and Hillsboro, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. He became the director of the Scandinavian Chorus in September 2010, and in his words, “really enjoyed working with such a kind and energetic group of musicians.” Under his leadership the chorus transitioned to presenting programs balanced in all five Nordic languages (Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish). In early 2020 the chorus renamed itself Portland Nordic Chorus to reflect this expanded scope.