Board of Directors & Staff

Robert graduated from Yale University in 1977 with a BA in music, but aspired to become a chef. He has worked most of his professional life in food related businesses until retiring from New Seasons Market as Information Systems Manager at the end of 2019. He has continued to pursue his musical interests since graduating from college and was appointed Music Director of The Christmas Revels in 1999. He continued in that position until June 2023 when he became Music Director Emeritus. He is a published choral music composer who has also taught elementary and middle school music at the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, and has sung with several choirs around town. He founded and led early music ensembles in Philadelphia and Portland. Robert is an accomplished home chef and mixologist who loves to entertain guests with his wife of many years, Janet Gibbens.

Michael knew from an early age that he needed to live somewhere other than rural western New York State (a.k.a. Buffalo) and that his life must be in the arts rather than the sciences. Attending the University of Portland and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Bachelor of Music followed by a Master of Music in Piano Performance, he found his career working in print music retail and eventually became owner and manager of Sheet Music Service of Portland where for 38 years, he served the music community of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. His love of vocal and choral music continues to nurture him in retirement along with attempting to become the next Amateur Top Chef.

Chad grew up as a Suzuki violin kid, continued with classical violin lessons through high school, and played with the Salem Junior Symphony. He began college as a theater major at the University of Oregon but dropped out to join a country rock band, then performed with a variety of bands in folk festivals and taverns. At the same time he learned the carpentry trade, as this line of work actually pays the bills. He went back to UO and earned a BA in Physics in 1984. He moved into the high tech industry and has worked for the last 30 years as a hardware and software designer. Music has always been Chad’s passion. In the early 1990’s Chad sang and toured with Cantores in Ecclesia, then took a deep dive into Irish traditional music, which he continues to study and perform. His wide ranging interests in music include Baroque, folk, country, blues, and jazz.