Our Mission Statement
The Portland Peace Choir strives to exemplify the principles of peace, equality, justice, stewardship of the Earth, unity and cooperation. We sing music from diverse cultures and traditions to inspire peace in ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world. The Portland Peace Choir welcomes all voices.
Peace Through Music
The choir is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of volunteer members of the choir.
Ruth Reding Hoffart,
Director
Ruth Reding Hoffart has been involved in music, especially classical music, since she was very young. As a toddler, she would ask her family to play “beautiful music” when she wanted to listen to classical music. After taking piano lessons for several years, Ruth began taking voice lessons at age 12. It was love at first note!
Ruth has a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University where she performed in multiple choirs and operas. Some of her previous roles include the Ugly Step-Sister in “The True Story of Cinderella” by Warren Martin, the Page in Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Prince Charming in Jules Massenet’s “Cendrillon,” and Despina in “Cosí fan tutte” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ruth also had the wonderful opportunity to go to South Africa with the IWU Collegiate Choir when they were invited to perform at a festival in Stellenbosch, SA.
As a director, Ruth has lead a number of ensembles. She started conducting in high school as a TA for the freshman choirs, then went on to direct the Wesleyan Consort (the early music ensemble at IWU) and a number of other student groups.
Ruth is so very pleased and honored to be a part of the Portland Peace Choir. She believes that music can be a force for good in the world, and believes that PPC is a wonderful place to demonstrate just that.
Naomi Keiko Andress,
Accompanist
Naomi “Keiko” (pronounced “Cake-oh”—and yes, that’s the real-life name of the killer whale from Free Willy). Andress has been playing piano all her life since she began plonking the keys on her parents’ old upright as a toddler. She is classically trained and has a decade’s worth of combined experience as a choir accompanist and church pianist. In addition to accompanying the Portland Peace Choir, Keiko also plays keyboards in the indie-pop rock projects Great State and Tiny Little Empire. Keiko is a Lewis & Clark Law School graduate who looks forward to practicing immigration law. She is very excited and grateful to have the opportunity to play piano for PPC, helping to advance our mission of peace through music.
