Arwen Myers

Executive & co-Artistic Director / soprano

Praised for her artistry and warm, clear tone, Arwen is quickly gaining a reputation as a captivating and sensitive interpreter of early and contemporary music. A versatile artist equally comfortable in oratorio, chamber music, and on the recital stage, Arwen has appeared as a featured soloist with Portland Baroque Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Astoria Music Festival, Montana Baroque Music Festival, and the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, among many others. In July 2014, she was awarded 3rd place in the prestigious NATS Artist Award competition in Boston, MA, and she is a two-time semifinalist in the Oratorio Society of New York's solo competition in New York City. A passionate collaborator, Arwen regularly sings with a number of Portland-based chamber ensembles, including 45th Parallel, Fear No Music, The Ensemble of Oregon, In Mulieribus, Cappella Romana, Musica Maestrale, Resonance Ensemble, and others. Arwen holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Performer’s Diploma in vocal performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Laura Beckel Thoreson

co-Artistic Director / mezzo-soprano

Lauded for her warm, rich tone quality, sensitive musicality, and compelling stage presence,  mezzo-soprano Laura Beckel Thoreson is a rising presence in the opera and concert world. Equally at home in the opera house, on the concert stage, and in the recital hall, Ms. Thoreson has appeared as a guest artist with such groups as Portland Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Augusta Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Indiana University Opera Theatre, the Oregon Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, San Juan Symphony, the Bach Cantata Choir and Orchestra, and more, and has been a four-time guest artist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. A great choral music enthusiast, Ms. Thoreson has been a member of several professional ensembles, including The Kammerbach Ensemble, Aguava New Music Studio, Apollo’s Voice, Vox Reflexa, Prometheus, and Portland-based Cappella Romana, Resonance Ensemble, Trinity Chamber Singers, and The Ensemble of Oregon.

susan mcdaniel

piano

Susan McDaniel has appeared widely as soloist and chamber musician, including recitals in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. She received a B.A. in music from Linfield College, where she studied with Jill Timmons, and a M.M. in vocal accompanying from Manhattan School of Music, where she was a student of Warren Jones. Susan has been a member of the music staff at Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, and Utah Festival Opera as well as music director and pianist for the San Diego Opera Ensemble, Off-Center Opera (Seattle), and Puget Sound Concert Opera. She teaches and accompanies at the University of Portland, Linfield College, and the Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, Maine. In addition to her work with singers, Susan is the resident pianist for Thursdays at Three, All Classical Portland's live performance radio show, and a member of the newly-formed Northwest Piano Trio.