Kris Van Auken, Artistic Director
Kris Van Auken has been a music educator for the past 34 years. She is known for her compassion and love for children as they journey through the world of music. Her high level of musicianship is demonstrated through her teaching, conducting and accompanying. She has taught elementary general music, strings, band and choir in three Portland area school districts as well as piano and Kindermusik in a private studio setting.
Kris received a Bachelors in Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University and a Masters in Music Education from Lewis and Clark College. Kris is currently in her 13th year at Oregon Episcopal School where she is a Nationally Certified Kodaly educator. Kris studies conducting every year with Dr. Doreen Rao at the Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education, where she has been awarded the distinction of Artist Teacher. Kris collaborates with internationally recognized children’s choir composers and conductors where they study music indigenous to each country. She in turn brings innovative ideas and fresh techniques back to share with her choirs. She frequently attends workshops and conferences presented by the Organization of American Kodaly Educators and the American Choral Directors Association to continue to develop her knowledge of choral music education. She served as President of the local Kodaly Educators Chapter (SWOKE) which is the solfege based method of teaching music literacy used throughout the ORS Youth Choirs musicianship program. Kris is also a well-known accompanist in Portland and sings with the women’s choir Belle Voci.
Chris Adams Brown, Musicianship Director
Teaching music to children has been Chris Adams-Brown’s passion for the past ten years. She received her Bachelor of Music and Masters in Education degrees at Portland State University. Chris is a Nationally Certified Kodály Teacher, and has used the Kodály music pedagogy, methods and materials to teach children in many contexts including school music classes, choirs in public schools and for private organizations, summer camps, and home school groups. She is currently the music teacher at The Children’s Hour Academy in Lake Oswego.
Chris has been singing in choirs most of her life, from Elementary School through College, and in some Portland area choirs as well.
Mark Steering, Bravura Young Men's Ensemble Director
Mark Steering has a degree in Performing & Expressive Arts from Ithaca College. Mark is a composer, who has written several musicals, lots of choral arrangements and a mini opera. He has performed as an actor, singer and puppeteer for many northwest theater companies. He has Stage and/or Music Directed dozens of musicals and theater productions.
Mark currently teaches private and group lessons (for adults and kids) in Singing & Vocal technique and Getting Over Yourself performance workshops. He also; Directs school theatre productions, Mt. Tabor middle school choir, Young Audiences school residencies, theatre camps at Concordia University and teaches musical theatre classes at Oregon Children's Theatre. Mark is thrilled to now be directing Bravura.
Mandy Sabrowski, Youth Choir Education Coordinator
Mandy is a Music education major at Portland State Univeristy with a proficiency in vocal studies. She has been a soloist for PSU and community choral groups. She has worked with children's choirs and has taught music and movement classes for the past 10 years. She works closely with Kris Van Auken and the youth choir artistic staff and as the liaison between families and the office.
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