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.
Gerard Sundberg's compelling baritone voice is celebrated internationally for its beauty and clarity. For the past eight seasons, he has captivated audiences with his performances of Handel's Messiah with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Following another Messiah performance, a critic declares, "His recitatives and arias remained focused and filled with energy... he demonstrated excellent range, control and diction." Another said, "He sings with passion and conviction, giving thoughtful and heartfelt expression to the text."
Mr. Sundberg has distinguished himself as a concert artist. Recent performances include the St. John Passion conducted by John Nelson in Paris at the Notre Dame Cathedral and as soloist with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, and with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Shaw. He also has sung extensively with the Oregon Bach Festival under the artistic leadership of Helmuth Rilling. Rilling praises Mr. Sundberg for his "exceptionally stunning high range" and "perfect command of the German language and high musicality."
In 2005-2006 he performed Messiah with Independence Messiah Choir, Duke University, and Atlanta Symphony, Bach Weinachts Oratorium with Atlanta, Mozart C Minor Mass with Omaha Symphony, Bach Johannes-Passion with the Nova Singers, Quad Cities, and Mozart C Minor and RVW Dona Nobis Pacem at Carnegie hall with Duke University.
Mr. Sundberg is a graduate of Bethel University and holds Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota. He is presently Professor of Voice at Wheaton Conservatory of Music where he teaches studio voice and vocal pedagogy. Mr. Sundberg is an active church musician, and vocal and choral clinician. His two recordings are "Singer on a Journey," including four sacred song cycles by Brahms, Beethoven, Vaughan Williams and Carlisle Floyd, and "Songs for the Journey" including arrangements by Edwin Childs of 16 Hymns and Gospel songs.
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: Gwen BudishCindy Calvin Laura Davis Laura Greene Dee Lee Sara Palermo Nola Port Jane Sundberg Nicole Thorson Rachel Veenker, section leader |
Altos: Erika BiermeierSharon Carlson, section leader Kara Eggers Marcy Grant Linda Holmen Leah Jarosek Vicki Jefferis Kris Koenigsberg Beverly Solberg Katy Wehr |
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Tenors: Reuben DahlquistTim Faatz Ken Holmen, tour manager Lathan Kistler Paul Kling Chuck Niles Michael Olsen, section leader Mark Uecker Accompanist: Herb Johnson |
Basses: Erik AndersonLowell Becker, business manager Aaron Bumann Steve Calvin David Nelson Karl Nelson Dean Palermo, section leader Jerry Sundberg, soloist Jon Veenker Dan Wickman Dwight Williams |
