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Rebecca Fromherz, Soprano, is a young dramatic soprano who has spent the last four years studying Opera and German Art Song in Vienna, Austria, where her teachers have included Christa Ludwig, Hilde Zadek, Charles Spencer, and Michael Pabst. While in Europe, Fromherz has had the pleasure of performing numerous concerts as a guest artist, from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Orpheus Quartet in a twelfth-century chapel in the Swiss Alps, to a recent benefit concert with the Bratislava Radio Orchestra to raise money for building wells in Malawi, Africa. Future plans include a New Year’s concert in Salzburg, and a spring full of auditioning for opera agents and companies throughout Germany and Austria.

Fromherz finds her roots in Oregon where she received her early musical training at Dallas High School. She moved on from there to Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, coming back to her home state often to perform concerts and operas in the Salem area. Once again, she is happy to be “home”, and honored to be a part of the U.S. Premier of the Hidas Requiem at the Elsinore.

Janene Kirkpatrick, Mezzo-Soprano, is a graduate teaching assistant and master’s candidate at Central Washington University. She recently completed performances as Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and is currently involved in productions of Meanwhile, Back at Cinderella’s by Dennis Arlan, in the role of Narrator, and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, in the role of Dido. Janene has appeared as a soloist in a number of large scale works, including Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s Magnificat, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Schutz’s The Christmas Story. This is her debut professional performance with Festival Chorale Oregon.

Rian Kirkpatrick, Tenor, has recently completed performances as Kaspar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and is currently involved in a production of Meanwhile, Back at Cinderella’s by Dennis Arlan, in the role of Harold. Rian has appeared as a soloist in a number of large scale works, including Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Bach’s Magnificat, Britten’s Saint Nicolas, and Handel’s Messiah. He is currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Central Washington University. This is his debut professional performance with Festival Chorale Oregon.

Kevin Helppie, Baritone/Bass, maintains an active performing career in
recital, oratorio, opera and popular styles. Kevin enjoys the full spectrum of solo and ensemble singing. As a soloist he has sung with; Nashville Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Louisville Bach Society, Bay Chorus of Houston, Detroit Concert Choir, Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Seattle, Seattle Choral Company, Choir of the Sound, Seattle Pro Musica, Festival Chorale Oregon and the Willamette Master Chorus.
He sang the role of Chief Seattle in the West Coast Premiere of The Earth is Our Mother with the Dave Brubeck Jazz Quintet. Mr. Helppie’s operatic repertoire encompasses over twenty roles including the title characters in Le Nozze di Figaro, Falstaff and Don Pasquale. Kevin has received fellowships to perform with renowned groups such as the Robert Shaw Festival Singers on their French tour and in performances of Brahm’s Requiem and Beethoven Missa Solemnis for the Centennial celebration of Carnegie Hall. Mr. Helppie was also granted an artist fellowship to perform with the Bach Aria Group in New
York. He has been heard on the National Public Radio In Recital series and has performed a multi-media recital called America in Song under the auspices of grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Texas Arts Commission. He performs with the critically acclaimed chamber choir Opus 7 and concertizes with a jazz pianist in a
collaboration called Duality. Kevin Helppie is currently on the music faculty of Western Oregon University.