Choir
blake applegate
choir director
Blake Applegate is the Director of Cantores in Ecclesia, assuming leadership of the organization upon the retirement of his father, Dean Applegate, in the spring of 2010. Prior to his appointment as Director, Blake served as Assistant Director, conducting the adult and children’s choirs not only locally but while on tour in Europe. A highly respected singer as well as choral director, he has sung widely throughout the Portland metropolitan area with groups such as Capella Romana, the Trinity Consort and the Portland Baroque Orchestra. For over a decade he has been a member of the Schola Cantorum at Holy Rosary Church, where he serves as principal cantor for the parish. He and his wife, professional musician Anna Song, are the parents of two and deeply committed to the musical education and training of children and young adults.
Anna song
choir director
Anna Song holds a B.A. in composition from UCLA, an M.M in Choral Conducting from Yale University, and an Ed.D in Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has studied with Dennis Keene at the Keenefest Choral Institute and has appeared at the Oregon Bach Festival as a conducting fellow with Helmuth Rilling. Dr. Song is currently Associate Professor of Music at Linfield University where she serves as the Director of Choral Activities and Department Chair. A lover of early music, she is also Co-founder and Artistic Director of In Mulieribus, a professional women's vocal ensemble that has presented its own concert series in Portland for nearly 15 years.
Catherine van der Salm
Choir instructor, Soprano
Catherine is a versatile musician praised for her “agile, supple and richly expressive” voice (The Oregonian). She is an active collaborative artist singing with Cappella Romana, In Mulieribus, Cantores in Ecclesia, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Resonance Ensemble and Oregon Catholic Press. She has appeared as a guest artist with 45th Parallel, Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival, Newport Symphony Orchestra, Third Angle, Willamette Master Chorus, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Musica Maestrale and Bach Cantata Vespers at St. James Lutheran Church. A native of the Northwest, she grew up in Sandy, Oregon, and graduated with honors from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, earning two degrees: Bachelor of Science in Business Economics and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Catherine makes her home in Vancouver, Washington, with her husband, Ruud, and their daughters Juliana and Annelies.
Crystal Zimmerman
Accompanist (Session 1 and 2)
Crystal Zimmerman, originally from Kansas, is currently professor of piano at Willamette University where she teaches class piano and individual piano lessons. At Willamette, she is also staff accompanist and the coordinator of the accompanying program. She maintains an active performance schedule, frequently performing in collaborative, chamber music, and solo recitals. Zimmerman is in demand as a lecturer - regularly providing preconcert lectures for the Oregon Symphony and lectures for Oregon Music Teachers Association. Her articles have been featured in American Music Teacher magazine and she has completed a six book series with FJH music company, entitled Succeeding with Sonatinas. Her greatest success is her beautiful family - her amazing sons Emmett and Riley, her supportive husband Matthew, and her black cats, Croc and Gator.