Come Join Us — All Are Welcome

Please contact us and come to our first rehearsals in September for the Autumn/Christmas Season or in January for the Spring Season. 

  • 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.
  • We have native speakers and language experts on hand to coach us on pronunciation, so no previous Nordic language experience is necessary.

Rehearsals

Rehearsal/Concert Expectations

Regular attendance at rehearsal is important. Our expectation is that singers will attend most rehearsals. It is also our expectation that if you are rehearsing with us, you will sing in the Nordic Holiday Concert 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 with our membership team so that we know you will be missing.

Being adequately prepared to perform is your responsibility. Please plan on attending the last rehearsals leading up to our concerts, usually the Friday prior to the Holiday and Spring Concerts.

Call-Times & Events

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

STAFF

Dr. William F. Kuhn
Dr. William F. Kuhn

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, and one grandson, Martin.

Bill has been selected as one of the co-directors of the next American Union of Swedish Singers Convention in Minneapolis in 2026.

We LOVE Our Accompanists

Karl Jurisons, Accompanist

Christopher Wilson, Associate Accompanist

Thank You!