Staff
Artistic Staff
David Thomas – Artistic Director
Edward Higgins – Orchestra Director
Ann Christensen – Concert Master
Jennie Peterson – Assistant Choir Director
Board of Directors
Ken Hollenzer – Executive Director
Tara Janson – Treasurer
Mark Deason – Technology
Operational Staff
Brad Goodwin – Producer
Kathryn Latour – Marketing
Keith Biggs – Public Relations
Tara Burke – Orchestra Personnel
Artistic Director
Dr. David Thomas
David M. Thomas enjoys a strong reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest as a conductor who fuses technique and artistry to provide a compelling and transformative musical experience.
Dr. Thomas excels as a choral musician through his unwavering commitment to healthy vocal production in the choir. Influenced early on by the beautiful soprano voice of his mother, Beverly Thomas, and her work building a thriving children’s and youth choral academy, Dr. Thomas spent much of his childhood years engrossed in the art of singing. As a teen, he took quickly to conducting, found early success leading his peers in rehearsal and, soon thereafter, conducting in performance, laying a strong foundation for his future education and career path. Earning an undergraduate degree in vocal performance (Brigham Young University) provided the confidence and skill necessary to elicit healthy, energetic singing from choristers.
Dr. Thomas attributes much of his success as a conductor and pedagogue to his years of study and performance with Dr. Ronald Staheli. Valery Uspensky, Stanislav Legkov and Mack Wilberg also played key roles in his development as a musician. Dr. Thomas (baritone) has performed as a soloist in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s well-known weekly television broadcast, and on the Mariinsky Theatre stage, and has prepared choirs or collaborated as a guest conductor with many prestigious ensembles including the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Newport Symphony Orchestra.
After earning additional degrees in Russian language (BA) and choral conducting (MM) at Brigham Young University, Dr. Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg Russia. He has continually integrated Russian music in his performance and research, providing performance coaching for ensembles and soloists, and presenting scholarly work at national and regional level professional conferences. Artistic Director of the Portland Choir & Orchestra since 2007, Dr. Thomas pursues his greatest passion (teaching) via a robust private studio and is highly sought after as a clinician and adjudicator.
Orchestra Director
One of the most highly sought after conductors of the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Edward Higgins has spent his musical career imparting the joys of music as a performer, educator, and conductor.
Dr. Higgins began his versatile performance career with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Spoleto, Italy, where he served as Principal Trumpet on such works as the Grammy-winning recording of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra. After two seasons Dr. Higgins went on to hold the Principal Trumpet position of the Sacramento Symphony. He achieved comparable accolades in the Midwest as a professional tubist, holding principal positions in the La Crosse Symphony and St. Joseph Symphony Orchestras.
As an active conductor, Dr. Higgins spent 15 years as Director of Bands at Portland State University and a decade serving as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Portland Wind Symphony, founded the Oregon Conductor’s Symposium and has conducted State and Province wide high school honor ensembles throughout the US and Canada. He has also been a featured guest with the Portland Festival Orchestra. Most recently, Dr. Higgins has become the Orchestra Director of the Portland Choir and Orchestra and has taken his baton worldwide — appearing in such diverse locales as New York’s La Guardia School of Music and Art (featured in the 1980 motion picture titled “Fame”), and Seattle’s Rainier Symphony Orchestra and the Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, China.
Higgins has collaborated on the concert stage with notable artists such as, Glenn Dicterow (Concertmaster, New York Philharmonic), Charles Schlueter (Principal Trumpet Emeritus, Boston Symphony), Ronald Baron (Principal Trombone Emeritus, Boston Symphony), Fred Korman (Principal Oboe, Emeritus, Oregon Symphony) and world-renowned trumpet soloist Carl “Doc” Severinsen.
A published author, his critical edition of Robert Russell Bennett’s Suite of Old American Dances is published by Hal Leonard Publishing Company and serves as the model for the company’s master-works series. Higgins is also the author of Intonation from Both Sides of the Bell, published by Art of Sound Music Publications, Robert Russell Bennett’s Suite of Old American Dances, A Study Guide, published by Hoyt Editions, and Detroit and Motown, The Rise and Fall of Two Giants published by Alias Music Publications.
Dr. Higgins holds a Doctorate in Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in trumpet performance from the Juilliard School. He currently serves as a Professor of Music at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon and Orchestra Conductor of the Portland Choir and Orchestra.
Concert Master
When critics use words like “brilliant performances” and “virtuoso playing”, you’ve got to know that hearing violinist Ann Christensen play amounts to a musical celebration, whether she is performing as a recitalist, chamber musician, or concerto soloist.
Ann’s international appearances include over 60 solo recitals in China, Nepal, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan and New Zealand with duo partner pianist Lisa Bergman. “Everywhere they went, they charmed their audiences with their warmth, talent and humor” reported the Chinese Consulate in Guangzhou. Their recording American Music from Jazz, Broadway and Hollywood, produced in conjunction with their appointment as U.S. State Department Artistic Ambassadors, was received with critical recognition, touting Ann’s virtuoso playing as “making the crossover from classical to jazz sound easy.” (The Oregonian).
As concertmaster for the Oregon Repertory Singers orchestra, Ann recorded John Corigliano’s Fern Hill, and Libby Larsen’s Mass for the Earth, both on the KOCH International Classics Label. She has also recorded on the Hanssler Classic Executive Series as a member of the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, and has been heard on NPR’s Performance Today in concert at the Olympic Chamber Music Festival. Orchestral experience includes performances with the Oregon Symphony, the Opera Company of Boston, the Portland (Maine) Symphony, and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, as well with the Grand Teton, Peter Britt, Graz, and Oregon Bach festival orchestras.
Ann served for 8 years on the faculty of Lewis & Clark College where, demonstrating her versatility, she taught individual violin performance, coached chamber music, string pedagogy and conducted the Lewis & Clark/Reed College orchestra. She has also taught master classes at the Shanghai Conservatory, and the Sichuan Conservatory, both in China, Chonnan National University in Korea, and Victoria University in New Zealand. She also taught at the Olympic Music Festival’s Chamber Music Institute, and Humboldt State University’s Sequoia Chamber Music Institute.
Ann earned an Artist Diploma from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where she studied with noted violinist Kathleen Winkler. She was a winner of the conservatory’s concerto competition, and upon graduation, was awarded the Louis and Annette Kaufman violin prize. She was then accepted into the studio of famed violinist Miriam Fried at the Indiana University School of Music and earned a Master of Violin Performance degree. Ann is based in Portland, Oregon, and loves to garden and hike in the fabulously beautiful northwest. With Covid-19, Ann has now taken up running.
If you missed Ann’s fabulous performance of Vivaldi’s Winter from our concert in 2018, please watch the YouTube recording.
ASSISTANT Choir Director
Jennie Peterson
Jennie Peterson received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a secondary education choral emphasis from Brigham Young University in 2007. She has had a passion for choral music from a very young age and has enjoyed participating in and directing various choirs throughout her life. Jennie is currently a stay-at-home mother of four children. In her spare time, she loves to bake and read. Jennie has been part of the Portland Choir and Orchestra since 2010. She enjoyed acting as the soprano Section Leader at that time, and she is currently thrilled to be the Assistant Choir Director.
Executive Director
Ken received a BA in Environmental Science from Eisenhower College located in Seneca Falls, New York. Ken then migrated to Madison, Wisconsin to receive an MS in Water Resources Management. Ken dedicated thirty-two years in environmental protection serving in various professional assignments in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. During this time, Ken was responsible for drafting environmental policy still in place today.
Ken’s love of music began as a youth when he sang in his kindergarten class. He soon joined his elementary school and church youth choirs while also learning to play the violin. Finding a real sense of joy through music, Ken continued to sing and play in the orchestra during his Junior high and Senior high school years. During Ken’s college years, he chose to focus on choral work. While in college, Ken was asked to sing the role of Peter Abelard, a musical score prepared for a potential Broadway show. After moving to Madison, Ken auditioned for and sang with the Madrigal Choir under the direction of Samuel Jones. He also starred in the lead role of Frederic in Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance. Upon moving to Portland, Oregon in 2007, Ken auditioned for and joined the Portland (Ensign) Choir, under the direction of David Thomas. Ken and his wife, Sally, served a two year mission for their church in Cambodia between 2013 and 2015. Apart from those two years, Ken has sung with the Portland Choir on a continuous basis.
Spare time is limited but Ken enjoys traveling, walking – especially along Oregon’s coast – and recording significant moments through photography. He also loves to write and is the author of several publications.
Treasurer
Tara has always enjoyed participating in the performing arts. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and began singing in elementary choirs, was introduced to vocal jazz in high school, and sang at Brigham Young University under the direction of Dr. Ronald Staheli and Dr. Mack Wilberg.
Her husband’s work took the family to Gainesville, Florida where they raised their six children. Tara made time to learn about and volunteer in makeup and costume design as a way to support her children in their musical theater pursuits. She was also given the opportunity to co-direct and perform in a local production of “Savior of the World”.
Tara has worked part time as a tax preparer since 1998, secretary / bookkeeper for Cooper Realty in Gainesville, Florida and currently as a tax preparer and bookkeeper for Jones, Ham & Cluff, P.C. in Beaverton, Oregon.
Since moving to the Portland area in 2019, Tara auditioned and sang with the Portland Choir and Orchestra for one season before rehearsals and performances were suspended due to Covid-19. She is now contributing to the choir as Treasurer and looks forward to singing again!
Marketing
Kathryn Latour has been making music all her life. Born into a large family of singers (including PCO Soprano, Kristi Crusan), Kathryn performed regularly with her family in church. She served as Ward Primary Pianist at age 10, Sunday School Organist at age 12, and Sacrament Meeting Organist at age 14. At BYU Kathryn joined the University Choir under Donald Staheli before transferring to the University of Utah where she graduated cum laude in English.
Kathryn graduated Stanford Law School with a focus on Human Rights. While at Stanford Kathryn sang with the Valparaiso Singers, which toured locally, to Carnegie Hall twice, and to Russia. She also met Wouter (PCO baritone) there, a Dutch Olympic Bobsledder, and married in 1988. Wouter’s career took the family to Europe for 13 years where Kathryn was a delegate at the Human Rights Conference at The Hague Peace Palace.
Returning with family to California in 2005, Kathryn rejoined the Valparaiso Singers as Conductor and played for the Redwood Ringers Bell Choir. While teaching International Law at Menlo College she formed and conducted the Menlo College Chorale, a 40-voice student group, and started the children’s choir, Sing with the Heart.
Kathryn moved to Portland in 2021 and began composing choral works. She sings alto for PCO.
Technology
Mark Deason has been developing computer systems for over 40 years, most recently network management for very large Internet service providers. Mark also spent many years serving as technology specialist for his church, including sound, video, and computer networks.
Having several friends in the choir, Mark finally overcame the fear of auditioning and joined the choir in 2015 just in time to sing (baritone) in the summer concert with Bill Schonely. As it turned out, help was needed with sound and the website, and after a bit of training from Michael Isaacs and Carl Davis, Mark took on those responsibilities and a few more after they moved on.
Mark’s superpower is the ability to figure out just about anything with a “on” switch, but it is truly a joy meeting weekly and singing with the choir, many more of whom are now counted by Mark as friends.
Producer
Brad Goodwin
After attending a performance of the Portland Choir & Orchestra in 2009 that he described as “Carnegie Hall in Portland,” Brad became a volunteer. He has been involved with every concert since.
He currently produces Portland Choir and Orchestra concerts and supervises a crew of dedicated volunteers who handle production design, sound, lighting, stage management, transportation, decorations, house management, box office, ushering, post-production recordings, and video.
Brad spent four years as the drum major of the Brigham Young University marching band. Professionally he is a software architect at Oracle, a global software company.
Public Relations
Keith Biggs received his BA in Political Science from Portland State University and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. At age 8, Keith started taking piano lessons from concert pianist Brent Johnston. In middle and high school he added to his musical background by taking up the trombone and singing. He shared his passion for the piano by teaching piano for several years. In college, he learned how to play the organ and now plays the organ and piano for several musical events in the Portland, Oregon region. One of Keith’s biggest musical highlights was being able to play the famous Mormon Tabernacle Organ in August of 2013.
Keith has been involved with the Portland Choir & Orchestra from its beginning in 2005. He has voluntarily served as public relations director for the choir and orchestra and previously as Executive Director for 7 years. In his spare time, he loves to travel, study American history, and act. You may have seen him briefly in a few episodes of Leverage and GRIMM as well as a few local commercials.
orchestra Personnel
As the oldest of 11 children, Tara grew up in tiny Dundee, Oregon. She fell in love with the violin early but had to wait until age 10 to finally take lessons. She dove in with her heart and was awarded academic and music scholarships to Brigham Young University – Idaho. There her talents flourished as she was featured in the university’s annual concerto contest and served as the concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Kevin Call. After completing an Associates degree, Tara served a 19 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Germany Frankfurt and Dusseldorf Missions where she was asked to take her violin with her – playing in the streets, homes, and churches of Germany.
Post-mission, Tara completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at George Fox University while continuing to teach music from her home studio which she’s done for the last 30 years. Tara fostered the love of music in her own five children, eventually forming a string quartet where they have earned scholarships like their mother. In 2005, Tara was recognized as “Young Mother of the Year” in Oregon and then won the 2006 National Violin Performance award with American Mothers, Inc.
As the children grew, she took on wide-ranging musical projects, from directing the orchestra program at Stoller Middle School (Beaverton School District), to orchestra manager and back-up conductor for the Pro Arte Conservatory Strings, office manager of the Keys to Life Music School, and serving on the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council. Tara has enjoyed performing with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Linfield Chamber Orchestra, and the Portland Choir & Orchestra. She is a licensed substitute teacher for the Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Forest Grove School Districts. In all her spare time, she enjoys dining out, binge-watching all things Marvel, running half marathons, and fielding ‘Hey Mom…’ calls from three newly married daughters.