Dennis Port is founder and director of Evangelion Chorale, an ensemble which he began in 1998. Beginning as a non-directed group of 14 singers, Evangelion has grown to an ensemble of 40 musicians who travel to Ukraine for classical choral ministry. The work of that ministry is the focus of this website.
A full Professor at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, Dennis is widely recognized for his extensive experience and achievements in the choral and teaching arts. Dr. Port earned his B.A. from Bethel University in 1966 and received an M.Div. from Bethel Seminary in 1970. He also holds an M.A. from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from New York University.
Dennis began his teaching and conducting career in 1971 as a high school director of choral music in Cambridge, Minnesota, and also served for six years at The King's College in New York, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1987. He joined the faculty at Bethel University in 1995 as conductor of the Bethel Choir and chair of the Department of Music after teaching for eight years at Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota.
In addition to founding Evangelion, Dr. Port was the first assistant director of The Minnesota Chorale and music director of The East Central Minnesota Chorale. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician in the United States, England, and Ukraine. Dennis has also been a church choral musician for forty years.
Port spent the month of November, 2005, in Kyiv, Ukraine, where he taught at the Christian Music Academy, was a guest lecturer at the National School for Arts at the Lavra, and gathered 20th century choral music which had not been available in the United States. Evangelion will perform some of that music on its 2007 tour.
Herbert Johnson received his doctorate in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Prior to his arrival in the Twin Cities, he taught at King's College in Briarcliff Manor, New York and Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Johnson is a professor of music at North Central University in Minneapolis, and teaches Theory, Hymnology, Music Appreciation and Applied Piano. He also coordinates the Piano Accompanying Program.
As a dynamic piano performer, Dr. Johnson performs in several recitals and numerous musical venues in the metropolitan area including chamber music recitals, worship services, and sacred concerts. He has recorded three albums of hymns and worship choruses. He was guest artist at Goshen Piano Teachers Workshop at Goshen College in Indiana.
On summer ministry, Johnson has traveled to Ukraine with the Kairos Chamber Ensemble performing in churches and concert halls as well as teaching master classes in musical institutions in Rivne and L'viv.
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Sopranos: Cindy CalvinChristie Calvin Meredith Dahlquist Natalie Dahlquist Laura Davis Kathy Erickson Joan Goff Sara Palermo Nicole Thorson Rachel Veenker |
Altos: Kathy BjorkKarin Blomquist Timothy Faatz Linda Holmen Vicki Jefferis Jenny Kelly Kris Koenigsberg Jan Larson Cindy Nelson Beverly Solberg |
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Tenors: Reuben DahlquistDan Fine Todd Hanson Ken Holmen, Tour Manager Rich Jansma Michael Olsen Alson Toavs Mark Uecker Accompanist: Herb Johnson |
Basses:
Lowell Becker, business manager |
