PLC Director

Kirsten Hart

Kirsten Hart received her B.A. from Pacific University where she studied voice with Dr. Scott Tuomi and conducting with Dr. George Harshbarger. She recently graduated from Portland State University with her M.M. in vocal performance. While there she was the graduate teaching assistant to the choral department where she studied conducting with Dr. Stephen Coker and conducted the women's choir Les Sirénes. She is the music director at Ressurection Lutheran Church and a recurring soloist at The Grotto Masses. Kirsten has taken part in both the Bel Canto Northwest and Astoria Opera apprenticeships and currently sings as a member of the Portland Opera Chorus. She has performed such roles as Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, Katisha in The Mikado, Roselinda in Die Fledermaus and Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel. She has sung many oratorio solos such as the soprano solo in the Verdi Requiem with the Portland Symphonic Choir. Kirsten has studied or coached with Ruth Dobson, Susan Hinshaw, George Shirley, Nicholas Carthy, and Ellen Faull, and is currently a voice student of Pamela South. She has won numerous awards in jazz as well as classical competitions including outstanding soloist at the Reno, Nevada and Mt Hood jazz festivals, first place at the N.A.T.S competition 2004, 2005, and 2006 and multiple vocal scholarships. She has premiered many new works including a jazz mass that was composed for her voice.

"In James Bash and Lorin Wilkerson's reflections on Kirsten Hart's performance in the November 2008 Portland State University concert, Avatar, they regard Hart as a “soloist of note…whose robust, warm tone shimmered with just the right amount of power at all times..." (Northwest Reverb).

PLC Accompanist

Sarah Jarvinen

Sarah Jarvinen is a native of Oregon and has been playing the piano since the age of five. She earned her Bachelor's of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied composition with Elinor Armer. She recently received her Master's of Science Teaching in Music from Portland State where she worked as a graduate teaching assistant, helping with group piano classes and accompanying. Sarah is the church pianist at St. Stephens Catholic Church, and the organist for Cantores in Ecclesia's Childrens Choir. She also works as a dance accompanist at the Classical Ballet Academy in Sellwood. Sarah Jarvinen teaches piano and is a member of Oregon Music Teachers Association. She is very excited to be accompanying the Portland Lesbian Choir!