President
Shelley Arenson joined the Conchords in 2022. She and her husband had just relocated to Oregon (in 2021) after 25 years in Connecticut. Music has been a part of her life since grade school, singing with choral and theater groups, and playing guitar. She is thrilled to have found such a friendly and welcoming musical community here with Conchords Chorale.
After working in publishing, bookkeeping, and working at home for many years raising her family, Shelley is enjoying semi-retirement. These days she volunteers in the Library & Archives at the Oregon Military Museum and sews for the nonprofit Days For Girls. In her spare time she enjoys knitting, quilting, reading, bookbinding, dancing, distance running and spending time with her family.
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Artistic Director
Don Anderson has a degree in music education and varied and extensive background as a tenor soloist, including performances with the Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony and Portland Symphonic Choir. His directorial experiences include the US Army Corp Command Chorus, German Preparatory Chorus, Liedertafel Harmonie, Portland Chorale, Cloud 9 young men’s vocal ensemble and Stratosphere, a young women’s ensemble. He has been a voice coach in the Portland area for over 30 years and a commissioned composer and arranger.
Don is also a recent author of the book, “Paper and Spit.” Like many adoptees, Don Anderson wanted to know where he came from. But would he be setting himself up for disappointment by searching? Would he discover parents who were not alive-or worse, parents who didn’t want to know him? Would he be able to find them at all?
Paper and Spit chronicles Anderson’s journey. Follow him every step of the way, from filing his first application in 1995, to obtaining information from the adoption agency that placed him, to knocking on his maternal aunt’s door in 2001, to finally confirming the identity of his father in 2015. Using DNA and genealogy, Anderson finds not only the identity of his birth parents but also his true ethnic heritage. In his relentless pursuit, he attends conferences, classes and studies-and he never gives up his search. Anderson discovers that his connection to his roots is stronger than he realizes-and once he reconnects, he never lets go.
Paper and Spit is filled with suspense, disappointments, breakthroughs and climactic moments that make it a great read. Even if adoption is not your story, Anderson’s memoir will inspire you to find the roots of your identity and heritage
Vice President
Susan has been singing with the Conchords Chorale for many years. She has sung with her family her whole life and been part of choirs for the last ten years. In addition to providing guidance to the board, key roles include handling the booking of our concert venues and fundraising.
Susan is enjoying her retirement after spending ten years as a registered nurse and 27 years in medical sales and marketing. She keeps herself very busy with singing, golfing, boating, camping, water-skiing and traveling. She also is very involved with her family: her partner, sisters, eleven nieces and nephews and fifteen great-nieces and nephews.
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Secretary
Mary Wardell has been a singer with the Conchords since 2013.
Mary is the secretary to the board and enjoys making contributions to this great group of singers.
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Treasurer
Mary McMahan has been with the Conchords since 2017. She returned to singing after a very long hiatus – the last time she sang was at Grant High School. Imagine her surprise at the first practice to see her high school choir director (Janet Howland) who had started the Conchords more than 35 years ago. Mary enjoys singing for seniors, getting back from them as much as she gives.
She was elected Treasurer in 2019. It is a fitting position as she is the Accounting Manager for a large construction company. With all this accounting, she still finds time to enjoy her granddaughter and try out new recipes on friends and family.
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Member-at-Large
Brenda Braden serves as Member-at-large on the board, a link between the choir members and the Conchord’s board.
Brenda joined the Conchords in 2012 after she retired from being the Tualatin City Attorney. She started singing in choirs as a 4yr old and continued past high school. She has been part of choirs, ensembles as well as soloing. However, family responsibilities, law school and legal practice left no room to continue singing for many years. Now she is studying with Don to rebuild her long-neglected voice and enjoys every minute she spends with this great group.
Originally from Kansas, she and her artist husband, Buck, moved to Tualatin in 1994. Brenda also serves as the secretary for the Tualatin Library Foundation and an informal advisor to the Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Artists. In addition to singing, Brenda loves to paint, write, quilt, go to live theater, garden, read, spend time with their many friends and family and is a political/news enthusiast.
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President Emeritus
Linda Rutledge has been an active part of the Conchords Chorale since1999. Yes, she loves to sing but she also likes to take roles in leadership. She has served the Conchords three times as president. She also served as treasurer for seven years.
Besides leading the direction of the Conchords, Linda has sought opportunities to connect the Conchords to different fundraising opportunities that allow the Conchords to continue as a non-profit choir.
What does Linda do besides sing with the Conchords? She working half time as a financial advisor during the workweek and is very involved with golfing, bowling and loves to be with her family which includes a husband of 40+ years, two sons and daughters-in-law and six wonderful grandkids. Whew! Is there time to sleep?