Give Joy – Media

A legacy of joy…

For decades, Robert Lockwood and Betsy Branch have been giving joy to the Portland Revels community – audiences, chorus members and fellow artists – through their incredible talent, passion, and generosity. Below, enjoy reflections from Robert and Betsy, along with playlists of music, as well as testimonials and memories from across our community.

Don’t forget to join us on April 14th for the Give Joy Benefit: Songs for the Seasons!
And consider a donation in to our Give Joy campaign in Robert and Betsy’s honor.

Robert Lockwood leads the audience in a sing along in the 2018 production of Midwinter Revels, Nordic Lights.

From Robert and Betsy

PLAYLIST

PLAYLIST

LEARN MORE

Memories and Testimonials

Chorus

Illiana May

TESTIMONIAL

Seth Truby

TESTIMONIAL

Theresa Beck van Heemstra

TESTIMONIAL

Jenna Dalton

TESTIMONIAL

Craig Dermer

TESTIMONIAL

David Edwards

TESTIMONIAL

Cat Galimidi

TESTIMONIAL

Linda Golaszewski

TESTIMONIAL

Laura Chisholm

TESTIMONIAL

Cynthia Gulick

TESTIMONIAL

Debbi Irvine

TESTIMONIAL

George Kunz

TESTIMONIAL

Gerard Lester

TESTIMONIAL

Jack McAnulty

TESTIMONIAL

Stephanie McBride

TESTIMONIAL

Andy McLain

TESTIMONIAL

Leslie Moclock

TESTIMONIAL

Lee Haas Norris

TESTIMONIAL

Kathy Paxton Williams

TESTIMONIAL

Anne-Marie Plass

TESTIMONIAL

Dick and Patty Reed

TESTIMONIAL

Charley Rowley

TESTIMONIAL

Kate Schuyler

TESTIMONIAL

Angela Truby

TESTIMONIAL

Randy Tucker

TESTIMONIAL

Board Members

Judith Meckling

TESTIMONIAL

Nancy Molina

TESTIMONIAL

Allison McGillivray

TESTIMONIAL

Audience & Guest Artists

Hero Hughs

TESTIMONIAL

Burl Ross

TESTIMONIAL

A Favorite Revels Memory from Robert

"A favorite memory is the recording of Traveler’s Prayer in 2010 for our first album, Down Through The Winters. We had struggled to record the song in a morning taping session and none of the takes were what we were hoping for. In the mid-afternoon after a break I decided to give it one more try and it was magical from the first note to the last. There are only a handful of moments in my musical life that have been truly transcendent – when something beyond ourselves takes over our souls for a few precious minutes – this was one of them."

CLICK HERE to listen to the recording of Traveler's Prayer!

Betsy: The Best Parts of Making and Performing in Revels Shows

The thing I love the most about being a part of the artistic team is all the collaborations I have had over the years. Robert has been a wonderful collaborator as my partner in the music direction, and the two of us have had fantastic collaborations with about five stage directors. I also love working with all the people who make a stage show possible—the stage managers, production managers, lighting and sound designers, costumers, props—again, that list goes on and on. And the collaborations with the musicians over the years have been remarkable. My favorite thing about performing in the shows is the shared energy with everyone in the room, both onstage and in the audience. We are creating a beautiful and celebratory work of art together.

Betsy's Playlist: A Personal Connection

In my 19 years of playing fiddle with Revels, the most impactful thing is the connections that I have forged with other musicians. I decided, for my Revels memories playlist, to include tracks by artists who meet 2 qualifications:

I have played music with them, either for Revels or for other gigs.
They have performed as a guest artist in one of the Revels cities at least once.

All of these are people I would call friends. Some are very close friends, and others are people that I would be delighted to see and hang out with anytime, anywhere. All of them have nurtured a piece of my own creative musical journey, and I like to think of pieces of all of them showing up in my playing, like musical seeds that have germinated. I create this list with gratitude for each of these artists and friends, and hope that some of you will find joy in listening to some of the music they have brought into the world.

Part of this list is on Bandcamp, part on Spotify, and part on YouTube. If you don’t have access to Bandcamp or Spotify, you can probably find most of these people in some form on YouTube!

BANDCAMP PLAYLIST

Seffarine: in 2022 I had the extreme pleasure of playing with Nat Hulskamp (guitar & oud) and Lamiae Naki (vocals) in our Spanish show. Their music can be heard here, and they play live in Portland sometimes too: https://seffarine1.bandcamp.com/album/de-fez-a-jerez

Bill Tomczak: Bill played clarinet with me in the 2013 Eastern European show. We continue to play together regularly in 2 bands. You can hear him with the Latter Day Lizards, which also includes 2 players that I have played with and who have played for Cambridge Revels over the years, Kate Barnes and Dave Langford. Give them a listen here! https://latterdaylizards.bandcamp.com/album/rainy-night-in-montague

Eric Stern: Eric also played accordion, sang and acted in our 2013 show. You can hear his delightful music here: https://ericsternmusic.bandcamp.com/album/stern-little-stories

George Penk: We hired George for our 2005 Revels show, and he is one of my long-time regular musical friends. You can hear his fiddling here: https://susansonger.bandcamp.com/album/a-portland-selection-1

Elizabeth Nicholson: Portland harpist extraordinaire, Elizabeth has played with me in the 2009 Irish Revels show, and in the 2018 Kid Show. She’s also on Portland Revels’ Down Through the Winters recording. Listen to her here: https://elizabob.bandcamp.com/album/boldly-panic

Nancy Conescu: Even though I didn’t get to play with her in our show, Nancy was featured in Portland Revels 2023 Irish show. You can hear her beautiful guitar and singing here: https://gerryharrington.bandcamp.com/album/the-fiddle-the-voice

Brendan Taaffe: Brendan has never been in a Portland show, but he has been featured in Revels North, and he also built a giant crankie for a Cambridge Revels production. He’s a singer, composer, and plays fiddle, guitar, gourd banjo and mbira. https://brendantaaffe.bandcamp.com/album/heap-of-horseshoes

Becky Tracy & Keith Murphy: Becky (fiddle) and Keith (guitar, mandolin) have not played for Portland Revels, but they have played in other Revels companies, including Cambridge and Revels North. Becky was one of my earliest contra dance fiddler inspirations. https://beckytracyandkeithmurphy.bandcamp.com/album/golden

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Elias Alexander: Elias (border pipes, highland pipes, guitar, fiddle, vocals) was part of our 2018 Scottish Revels show. His new album is called Fiddle Disco, or you can find him in the Bywater Band. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06jwZBxbHjkQhUjBXNtrB8

Kevin Burke: Kevin was part of Portland Revels 2009 Irish show. Working with him was a dream come true, and resulted in a long-lasting connection with him. His most iconic album, in my opinion, is the classic If the Cap Fits. My favorite track on there is the final set on the album, an epic set of reels. (It used to be called Side B of that album!) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06jwZBxbHjkQhUjBXNtrB8

Dan Compton & Fran Slefer: Dan (guitar, lute) played in 2 shows with us, and is featured on Portland Revels’ Take Joy recording. He was in our 2015 Irish show, and in our 2017 Scandinavian show. His wife Fran (button accordion) played with the Tacoma Revels along with Dan, too. Their CD Session at the Cottage is loaded with tons of terrific Irish session tunes. https://open.spotify.com/album/0dx3wlxpYuGLXVFzhQRYbo

Kevin Carr: Kevin (fiddle, uilleann pipes, highland pipes, whistle, story-telling) has played and acted in 2 Portland Revels shows (2015 Irish & 2018 Scottish), as well as many other Revels shows in both Oakland and Tacoma. His band The Hillbillies from Mars was my wedding band, and Kevin himself piped us up and down the aisle! His bandmates in the Hillbillies have appeared in California Revels productions as well. https://open.spotify.com/track/45gJZEXv5nZwuOJ20UgyaQ

Shulamit Kleinerman: Shula and I played together for the 2011 King and the Fool show. Her fabulous vielle playing is also featured on Down Through the Winters. My favorite track with her is a duet with me called Offerat Ecclesia. https://open.spotify.com/track/2Y7in66QDOeKS8eVPQeXFF

Larry Unger & Eden MacAdam-Somer: Larry and Eden have been musical friends of mine for many years now, and both of them have played in Cambridge & Houston Revels. I love their duo album Notorious. Probably my favorite track from that album is called Freddie’s Tune. https://open.spotify.com/album/7AqzwXN0oqhOMTG1XdCWqa

Ruthie Dornfeld: Ruthie (fiddle) was my very first fiddle influence, with her playing on Cambridge Revels’ The Wild Mountain Thyme CD. This recording is how I even found Revels in the first place! One of my favorite albums by her is Ways of the World, and the tune by that same name is a spectacular example of her fine fiddling. She has appeared in multiple Revels cities, including Cambridge and Tacoma. https://open.spotify.com/album/2kY1PEvmgjufgsIWnF2H3X

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Leela Grace & Lisa Ornstein: Leela (banjo, vocals) appeared in our 2012 Appalachian show. Lisa was never in a Portland show, but she did appear in a Cambridge production. This is a link to a concert that I did with them in Portland for the 2013 Old Time Gathering: https://youtu.be/JjiUwbmU1Fo

Bruce Akpan Hostetler

Bruce’s first Revels as Stage Director was 2011’s The King and the Fool, and he’s been Artistic Director since January 2017. Bruce has directed many theatre, musical, and opera productions throughout the USA and Canada including: Gretel and Hansel – Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Cupid and Psyche – Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Copenhagen and Beauty Queen of Leenane – Oregon Stage Works, Taming of the Shrew – Powerhouse Theatre, Hamlet, The Winter’s Tale, Comedy of Errors, and Much Ado About Nothing – Sun Valley Shakespeare Festival, HMS Pinafore and Light in the Piazza – Mocks Crest Productions, Another Round – Pittsburgh’s City Theatre, Amahl and the Night Visitors and Der Yasager – Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, and Hansel and Gretel – Rogue Opera. In 2012 Bruce’s play Feral (written from over 500 interviews with people living house-less in the Pacific Northwest) had a sold-out performance run in Portland. Bruce holds an MFA in Stage Directing from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama.

Illiana May

Revels is about community and tradition. We all find joy in connecting with those around us and comfort in familiarity. As much as our lives and the world may change, every year we come together to sing, dance, and warm the hearths of our hearts with friends and family. Revels provided a space where I felt safe, supported, and appreciated for who I was in middle school. Participating in the show, or seeing it year after year, is a powerful experience that provides shared identity. I was in Revels when I was 11 years old, and at 22 I still find hope and solidarity in the annual celebration.

Lauren Bloom Hanover

Executive Director
Lauren joined Revels in December of 2021 after several years of working in theatre administration and business consulting. She has held positions with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and with Profile Theatre, both of which focused on education, program development, community engagement and implementing IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) work. In addition to her administrative experience, Lauren has done extensive work as an educator, serving as a teaching artist with companies in New York, Alabama, California and Oregon and adjunct teaching at Portland State University. She is also a performer, and has appeared locally with Portland Center Stage, Profile Theatre and CoHo Productions. She received her MFA from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Seth Truby

In the 2009 Irish Revels, the old wiring in the Scottish Rite Theater got overwhelmed by the demands of our lightboard and during one show we lost all of our stage lighting. The house lights came up and all the magic of a live performance was suddenly drained away. Without missing a beat, Robert addressed the audience in full character with a very convincing Irish brogue "You just can't count on this newfangled electricity - it's always going out since we had the wires put in last year!" (The show was set in 1935). He turned around and enthusiastically started the chorus right where we had left off. We brought the audience along with us for the ride for the rest of the show, and our energy from the stage made up for the lack of lighting. It ended up being the most memorable performance of the entire run.

The main thing almost anyone remembers about Betsy's performances in the Revels is her brilliant smile that just fills an entire theater with her love of music. What they may not realize is how many different roles she filled behind the scenes for 20 years to make the Revels magic happen: choosing band members, researching repertoire, arranging music for both instrumentalists and the choir, providing live music for dance rehearsals, making sound effects for the mummer's play, managing seamless transitions between stage action, dialogue and music, and making new and returning Revelers feel welcomed into our community with her warm, fun, and loving presence.

Theresa Beck van Heemstra

In 2008, I joined the Christmas Revels (as it was then named) after a 14-year hiatus from choral singing and classical music training. I had played classical violin from age 5 to age 14 and sung in a chorus from age 9 to age 14; I gave it up to pursue bass guitar, theater, writing and making videos. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed it until, in 2006, a friend took me to a Christmas Revels show and I got pulled up onstage to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas. I couldn't shake the feeling that I belonged up there!

All of my adult musical education has been in the care of Robert Lockwood and Betsy Branch. My childhood musical training came back to me, but singing in Revels has given me so many gifts in diversifying my musical tastes, sight reading, choral singing, vocal training-- not to mention a few years of fiddle classes with Betsy outside of Revels, as well. I got to know them as directors and am glad to call them both friends now.

I come back to Revels year after year not just to sing but to be in community, and the team of Betsy and Robert led us there. Betsy's kind and joyful smile and gentle, while still precise, musical notes made us a better chorus. Robert's problem solving and finding clever tricks to get exactly the sound we were looking for, and his ecstatic smile when we got there, will always stay with me. I've been thrilled to be a part of this chorus, in all its iterations, and can't thank them enough.

Jenna Dalton

Robert and Betsy have healed our hearts through music so many times. One particular rehearsal occurred after a major world event that broke many hearts. The chorus was feeling unanimously heavy and low energy, but Robert and Betsy gently forged forward through rehearsal. The show must go on after all! In the last ten minutes of that rehearsal Robert closed his music and asked us to do the same. Then he asked us to stand. He said, "I know you all know this song and I know we've sung it a thousand times, it does not need to be rehearsed... but right now the world needs us to sing it." Betsy gave him a note from her violin and Robert began to sing Dona Nobis Pacem. Give Us Peace. We all joined in the round and sang with eyes closed, tears rolling down our cheeks as we ended rehearsal by sending an intention of peace out into this broken world.

Craig Dermer

The most potent memory I have of Revels is the magic within the circle time before a performance. That shared space and time will always remain sacred in my heart. Revels is an important way for all of us to remain connected to one another and connected to the cycles of our natural world in an increasingly isolating and disconnected society. Revels provides everyone with access to 'new' rituals that we all crave whether we know it or not.

Both Betsy and Robert embody a knowledge and love for music that is always inspiring. My fondest memories of weekly rehearsals are the “bird walks” Robert would take us on with fascinating background about the songs we were singing. It might be about the historical context of the song, the composer, or even the how and why we were using a particular pronunciations for a particular phrase. Weekly rehearsals were also a music history/theory lesson that I never expected to learn, and l grew to look forward to them almost as much a singing together!

David Edwards

Robert, your leadership and musicality are integral to the glorious choral tradition that has arisen through the Portland Revels annals. I can't calculate how many times I have passed wisdom that came via your voice along to my clients, students and choirs - especially the warmups that I’ve since appreciated. Or appropriated? Ok: stolen - lock, stock and... cleaning the barrel!

As much as I'd like to be there to honor you in person - and perhaps resurrect the human Whack-A-Mole game - on this occasion, I'm grateful for this opportunity to convey my love and gratitude for all you have done for me, my daughters (kids chorus alums Brooklynn and Lauren), and countless singing souls who shared a stage or song with you these last three decades. Our lives are richer for it!

And I would be remiss to not express my gratitude to Betsy for her music. So many shimmering strings of instrumental ingenuity weaving together our performances - not to mention the Music Together classes Brooklynn and I loved when she was a toddler.

My wish for you both: may life continue to shower you with musical moments akin to these you've helped create ...and send you more and more!

Cat Galimidi

There's a particular moment I look forward to in the development of every choir. After practice knocks out the wrong notes and missed entrances. On stage, singing to the empty auditorium, our voices begin to tune to each other. The harmonies & dissonance start to resonate in the room, in the back of my throat, and in my chest. Sometimes I even lose track of where my voice ends and someone else's begins. And I cry from joy - every time.

During this final season, there were so many times where I could see the music resonate in Robert. His love of choral music was evident in the smile on his face, the tears in his eyes, and the number of times he'd push us to repeat a section until we got it right. I deeply appreciate Robert's perfectionism, love of that moment, and willingness to work with me (ad nauseum) on my entrance to We Toast the Days.

As we stand on the edge of another bright new year, with old friends and new...

Linda Golaszewski

My life with Robert began at his beginning with Revels in 1998 when he joined for the pan-Celtic Revels. So besides Robert Reed, Hal Day and David Summers, I may have some of the longest term memories of Robert. Which means I have a lot of them so I’ll try to curate.

Early on, our music director (1999 maybe) bagged out on us. I’m not sure how it came about exactly but Robert was willing and able to step in, had the requisite musical background and knew something about the Revels. As music director, Robert has channeled many a different character to amuse and motivate us. Details will have to remain hidden I’m afraid.

In the Victorian show, our stage director let us pick our stage spouses (imagine!) and I made a beeline to Robert (I could have picked my own husband but needed a change). He was great, juggling both being our music director and onstage for that, with the demands of being a stage spouse. As there was dancing in the show, and I wanted to dance, I convinced Robert that he had to dance with me. I was brooking no disagreement on that. I believe we danced a polka. It nearly did him in and I’ve been told, was an impetus to ‘get back in shape.’ So I think we can credit Robert’s longevity to Janet and me.

Rehearsals in the early days at the Scottish Rite during tech week lasted very late. Sometimes very, very late and since we were younger, there may have been drinks after (at the Driftwood room). I’m hoping to dig up a photo of Robert, asleep in the audience while waiting for something to happen during a tech rehearsal.

We could be a challenging group, yet Robert could cajole the best out of us. Musical memories abound but if I had to pick it might be a toss-up between Yalibrui from the second Northlands or Bogoroditse (Rachmaninov) probably because Robert got us to have an incredible, indelible sleeve of sound… you could not pick out one singer’s voice amongst the rest as we mind-melded the music. I really think this, rather than the interspersing of small ensembles or other fancy things, shows his skill and delight in music making. And his ability to get us to sing as one.

Two sobering memories that revolve around sorrow. Robert’s heartfelt Revels moment after his mom passed away. And of course leading us as we stood in the audience to sing ‘There are Angels Hovering Round” after Sandy Hook. I tear up even thinking about that.

Robert’s drink concoctions are legendary of course: the afterparty Spanish Coffees (which engendered one-upmanship with an unnamed young’un); and the pandemic posts of all manner of food and drink. I credit Robert’s spurring of a friendly competition around this (even if he doesn’t know it) for the wildly successful Cocktail/Mocktail Challenge held as the lead up to our Flourish fundraiser over Zoom during the pandemic.

What I’ll miss….. watching Robert in the wings, for the last curtain call. And our hug… stage right. So many tears, of joy, of bittersweetness of life. Of Revels done well.

Laura Franklin Chisholm

I got hooked on Revels somewhere around age 10 at a Revels North production in Hanover, NH. They had me at Dona Nobis Pacem. I've sung it onstage with the chorus close to 100 times, and I still get goosebumps when that third part comes in. It's as if existence pops into a fourth dimension of joy and love. Prior to joining the Portland Revels chorus I'd suffered from terrible stage fright. Under Robert's and Betsy's tutelage I've become a confident singer who can focus on beaming the joy and love I feel around me toward the audience.

Cynthia Gulick

Some favorite Revels memories:

Singing while engulfed in the swirl of the Northern Lights! That was a transporting, multi-dimensional suffusion of the senses!

Almost ANY time that the kids sing and dance!

CHARGING onto the stage, whooping and yelling and waving our Morris sticks, to dance White Ladies Aston in pairs.

Almost ANY time Burl Ross was onstage - and especially the Skeleton Dance, OMG!

Debbi Irvine

Revels is probably the most important thing in my life besides my family. I have made so many friends here and learned so much from Robert and Betsy. I have almost never in my life felt as much a part of a community as I do with Revels. My very first year in Revels - 2011 -- my mom had passed away early that year and there were horribly traumatic/abusive situations that a family member was creating in the aftermath. I had forgotten how to laugh or smile that year. Revels renewed me. Revels showed me that yes, the light does return. Revels let me experience joy again. Robert and Betsy were an enormous part of that, and I will miss them both terribly.

George Kunz

It had been my dream to have my youngest daughter in the cast with me. She asked every year from age 4 and on - to join the chorus. When she was 12 she auditioned. Already getting too tall for the children’s choir, this would be her last chance. She was accepted into the cast. Her mother, however, was not a fan of Revels and forbid her participation. First day of rehearsals, I showed up and went to Robert to apologize for the situation. He simply looked at me, opened his arms and gave me a giant hug and I cried. I’ll never forget that moment. It’s Robert’s heart I feel in the music.

And of course firstly I was floored by Betsy and the band catching fire in the Scottish show, but mostly I remember those magic moments when she played duos with Hardanger players, fiddlers and other musicians. Unforgettable.

Gerard Lester

One thing I always hold on to when I think of Revels memories is the way that Robert would breathe life into the music by taking time during rehearsals to impart the history of the music and composition. His mini lectures in between songs had a deep impact on me. I ate it up and it was clear to me that Robert had immersed himself in the musical selections in ways that I could only imagine. Thank you for the deep love of the music we shared.

Now I'm thinking of a wonderful Betsy memory. I was pretty new to the Revels chorus in the 2017 Nordic show and the 2018 Scottish show, and wasn't even sure that Betsy knew who I was. But I remember that during one of the ensemble numbers, the direction was to greet each other silently as we sang/played through the song. As we rehearsed and performed, it became clear that Betsy's big smiling eyes were no act. She was smiling right back at me with a genuine affection between performers. Now there's one Reveler who knows the true meaning of Take Joy!

Robert offered me a doorway into the music. Betsy offered me a hand and pulled me through that opening. Revels is the deep magic through music and movement that I was always longing for. Revels made it clear to me that my part in all the ongoing wonderful madness of creation is to sing, dance, and play through the darkness.

Jack McAnulty

Robert - You took in an unmusicaled waif and and gave him (me) the glorious gift of a lifetime. The music. You were/are inspirational, educational, patient, forgiving and kind. And fun. Thank you for all that you have brought into my life. I wish you and your family (and my sometimes family) the very best.

Stephanie McBride

Robert and Betsy have been the creative heart and soul behind the Portland Revels, an extraordinary celebration of music, dance, tradition, and community joy. Their unparalleled creativity, talent, and meticulous care have brought this beautiful holiday show to life, creating an inclusive and vibrant community of talented individuals who, together, brighten the lives of many.

As a parent, I've witnessed firsthand the incredible impact of their work. My daughter, Aria, flourished as a part of the children's Revelers for four years, gaining invaluable high-caliber theatre arts exposure, musical, and dance training. This experience not only nurtured her artistic talents but also instilled a deep appreciation for the arts. She later transitioned to a kid wrangler and usher role, deepening her understanding and appreciation for the magic behind the scenes. My son, Elias, had the joy of being one of the youngest revelers in one show and even delivering a line to the lead actor, an experience filled with pride and excitement.

Beyond the invaluable opportunities provided to my children, as an attendee of every show, I've been consistently awed by the beauty, craftsmanship, and spirit of community that define each performance. The Portland Revels stand as a testament to Robert and Betsy's vision and dedication, creating a legacy of artistic excellence and community engagement that has touched many lives, including my own.

I am profoundly grateful for the rich experiences my family has had thanks to Robert and Betsy's hard work and passion. Their commitment to high-quality theatre arts and their ability to foster a nurturing and joyous environment for both performers and audience members alike have made a lasting impact on our community. The Portland Revels would not be the magical celebration it is without them.

Andy McLain

My wife Donna and her mother started coming to the Revels when they first moved to Portland from Eugene, and I would stay home to watch the babies. When the girls were old enough to come alone, we went as a family, and the children were so enchanted, they wanted desperately to be part of the production! For me, when I was pulled up on stage for the 12 Days of Christmas (with Robert right in the middle of the chaos!) I remembered that I longed for a group to sing with, and a stage for singing. It was amazing to see so many bright and smiling faces!

The winter solstice is the time we collectively need joy the most-- and Revels delivers that joy to its audiences. Year after year I see the same friendly faces in the audience, earnest even when the show is silly, moved when the show is emotional, completely ready to be part of our joyous narrative on stage. This experience binds people together, and it is the togetherness of community that makes the difference in a lonely and isolating world.

Betsy's musicianship is daunting at first, she is so adept and her name is all over the music as the arranger! But when she would take the tenors and basses to sectional practice (I am specifically thinking of the extremely difficult "Domakine Sipi Vino" practices) her enthusiasm and humor win out and you just have so much fun singing with her! She encouraged us to learn the notes, learn the fiendishly difficult tempos, but then, to have just the most fun we could with our singing!

Robert's dedication to Revels has been inspiring to me throughout-- the work and care he puts into choosing music for instance, but also the long hours of rehearsal, both as a director and as a chorus member. He is also a natural leader and wants the chorus to pull together into a cohesive whole. Often his memories and stories are sublime. One time in particular though... I remember he was talking about one of the more religious of our sacred music numbers, and he wanted to reach everyone, not just the Christians in the group. "I don't care what you believe in-- it doesn't have to be God, or the divinity of Jesus, it can be anything! Recycling! If it's recycling you believe in, then go ahead and sing this beautiful song for the love of recycling!" I don't think he meant it to be funny but the whole chorus was in tears from laughing.

Leslie Moclock

Revels is community and art! I was sorely lacking in both when I auditioned for the group, and so grateful Robert and Betsy welcomed me in. They both exemplified leadership in service to these ideals. After the show wrapped, instead of deservedly melting into the couch, they each volunteered with me on Christmas Day to bring carols to people in the hospital. Fine musicians and even finer people!

Lee Haas Norris

Some favorite memories are working on Sing Joyfully, and being the fool in Abbott’s Bromley. Revels offers a world we've lost but always have. It matters because we are on the verge of even the world we know diminishing and almost disappearing. Robert: enormous musically and humanity. Betsy also musically but also for her ability to deflect tension in rehearsal with humor and warmth. Luckily she's still in my life in her role as a fiddler in English Country Dance. I learned a lot from Robert's knowledge and feeling for Renaissance polyphony, which extends for me beyond voice--his influence is felt for me in playing this music on recorder ; his openness to music and cultures new to him (2013 (Eastern European show for example). Betsy, same flexibility and openness to music of all kinds--and she sings too! Wonderful to have her in the alto section her first year.

Kathy Paxton Williams

My first encounter with Betsy was actually with her husband Mark, who directed the Revels Spring Community Chorus in 2019. Mark said something like, that while Betsy was involved in Revels in the Fall, he did the primary parenting and managing of the household, but now that Revels was over, they traded places, so... thanks, Betsy!

Once I was in Revels itself, I noticed that Betsy appeared all over the place, at rehearsals AND at dance rehearsals, accompanying us or letting us know when we had gone off key (ouch!), giving advice, and generally just being a joy to be around. At some point, after my terror of joining the illustrious Revels had subsided somewhat, I really started to pay attention to her playing and discovered what a master she was. During the "Ghosts of Haddon Hall" performance, I realized what a privilege it was to be able to listen to the musical interlude which she led every night. Wonderful!

Before I joined Revels, I was an occasional audience member. As i had participated in my college chorus, I noticed Robert onstage and figured out that he was likely the director. When I finally did audition for Revels, it was a bit of a fan-girl experience to meet Robert, something along the lines of, "Ohmigosh! It's HIM!" (but only out of respect, not then teeny-bopper crush type of fangirl).

Over the past few years, it has been wonderful, challenging, inspiring, and occasionally terrifying to work with Robert. It is amazing how he managed to shape us from that first raggedy run-through to the final, polished performances. He welcomed us all in his home, treated us like family, and thus, we are a family. I will miss working with him.

Anne-Marie Plass

Betsy and Robert were a Joy to work with when I joined them in Andalusian nights. They were both kind and fun to learn from and of course the director Bruce was a joy to work with too as well as the other chorus members. I hope both of them enjoy their retirement.

Dick and Patty Reed

We have had the pleasure of attending the Revels to see our daughter and son-in-law, Eden and Perry Francis, perform in the chorus for many years. As true Revelers who meet challenge with creativity, an online version of the show in 2020 allowed us to be in the Chorus during the pandemic. We were thrilled to be a part of the show from afar. The musical excellence and the production values of every single performance we have seen through the years have created memories that we will always treasure.

Kate Schuyler

Revels came into my life at an important transition time - the camaraderie and support were invaluable in helping me step into a new way of being in the world. I am forever grateful for the experience of being part of a very fun group of fellow music and community theater lovers, and learning how to stretch into new roles helped me inhabit my own life in a different way. I treasure the relationships we developed: friendships with fellow cast and artistic team members, with the beautiful music, and with the traditions we offered each year to each other and the audience.

Robert and I each shared our first Revels experience in 1998 as stage husband and wife. We discovered that we enjoyed many of the same musical interests and developed a strong friendship over the years.

Betsy and I first met through the contradance community in California in the 1980's. It was a treat to run into her and Mark at contradance events in Oregon after they moved here, and an even bigger treat to share the Revels experience together. Her positivity, excellent musicianship, and fun-loving attitude were a gift to all of us.

I think "big" musical pieces have been some of the most potent memories I have taken away from being part of the Revels productions: Rotate, L'Homme Armé, Gaudete, Travellers Prayer, Personent Hodie, and O Magnum Mysterium to name a few. Being a dancer is also a very potent memory, in particular dancing in Abbott's Bromley and in the Scandinavian show in 2008.

Angela Truby

When I first performed with the Christmas Revels in 2008 it was one of those magical, larger-than-life experiences that would forever change me as a singer and musician. The Revels became central feature in our family's annual preparation for and celebration of the Christmas season, my daughters’ growing up embraced within a warm, creative and very uniquely intergenerational community of talented, devoted and quirky people! Music was always at the heart of this wonderful Revels magic for me ~ through music I tapped into the transcendent mystery of something ancient and sacred.

Robert's passionate and skilled direction, his spirit of positivity and giant heart, and his geeky love for Renaissance and Early Music has defined the Revels experience for me year after year, and what kept me coming back to the Revels fold. He believed in his singers ~ he believed in me ~ and helped each of us to grow and shine our light with courage and joy.

Betsy brought this same wonderful spirit, along with her fierce fiddling skills, arranging genius and ever-present smile. The collaboration between these two has been inspirational, and saying goodbye to Robert and Betsy has been a bittersweet journey through treasured memories.

Thank you, Robert and Betsy, for how you have enriched and deepened my life as a singer and musician, and for your friendship and love. Thank you for the countless ways you have given of yourselves beyond what was asked of you, simply because you love music, the Revels' vision, and our community. Thank you for ever seeking to strike the perfect balance between inspiring us to reach higher in our musicianship and finding joy in the imperfect process of learning and making music together. Thank you for bringing into our lives the gorgeous music of so many cultures from around the world. I have complete faith that the Revels chorus will evolve and blossom in new ways in the talented hands of our new musical leadership, but your legacy will be forever intertwined with the story, magic and soul of the Portland Revels.

Randy Tucker

BETSY: Whether I was in the chorus or in the audience, Betsy’s fiddle, her voice, and more than anything, her joyous smile always brought light to every Revels show. After I stopped performing with the Revels, I didn’t see Betsy for a while, but then we started running into each other at high school lacrosse games, where it turned out our sons were on the same team. During this whole time, my wife Mary’s was dealing with a terminal illness, and she passed away in 2019. I reached out to Betsy to see if she would play at Mary’s memorial service, which she did for free and also found another musician to join her. The service was everything I could have hoped it would be as a tribute to Mary, who was very proud of her Irish heritage. The version of Bán Chnoic Éireann Ó (The Fair Hills of Ireland, from the 2009 Revels) that Betsy played brought me to tears and because it was captured on video, still does. I will always be grateful for Betsy’s kindness at a difficult time.

ROBERT: After performing in five Revels shows over six years, I took a break, but in 2016 I auditioned again and was invited to join the chorus. Shortly after that, however, I was diagnosed with head and neck cancer, so I declined my role in the show. I was in the middle of treatment when my family attended the Revels that December. At that time, I noticed in the program that a recording project was planned, that auditions were scheduled, but that singers who had been invited to join the 2016 chorus didn’t need to audition. At the time I was in no condition to sing anything, but I reached out to Robert and asked: even though I wasn’t in the show, I had indeed been “invited” to participate; did this apply to me? Robert told me that he had worded the announcement very carefully with me in mind! When rehearsals for the recording began in March, I had just finished my treatment, and while my voice wasn’t all the way back, rehearsals were exactly what I needed, both vocally and spiritually. By the time we actually made the recording, my voice had recovered. I will never forget how Robert had kept me in mind and provided this avenue to bounce back to a fully lived life after my illness.

Judith Meckling

My mother was in her 90s when I introduced her to a Revels celebration of the winter solstice. She, like me, was entranced with the sense of community shared by both audience and performers. Through the magic of story, song and dance we came together—strangers and friends—to celebrate light and joy at the darkest time of the year.Mother was so transported by joy that she stood to join the dancers, leaving her cane behind, as we sang the refrain to “Lord of the Dance.” I will never forget that experience!

Nancy Molina

After my first audience experience in 2001, I was a Reveler for life. There is no better way to celebrate that we have made it though a dark time, and the light is returning, than the stories, traditions and costumes of the Revels. But my favorite part is the choral music - as a “choir kid” for decades, those beautiful harmonies feed my soul, and I LOVE how Revels performances invite the audience into the music as co-creators of the magic and fun.

In addition to supporting the Revels as a Board member, I create beaded “merch” items to sell during the performance season. As a maker, I get a little sneak preview into the theme of upcoming shows, and working on them connects me to all the Revelers preparing throughout the year for these special celebrations - the show writers/directors and producers, costumers, designers, performers, and families. It’s truly a labor of love and community that everyone is welcomed into.

Allison McGillivray

Attending the Portland Revels with my family is utterly soul-filling. The story is something that connects us all—the solstice, the turning of the seasons, the shift from darkness to light are all universal experiences that belong to everyone. And the music joins the audience and the performers on stage together in a beautiful, pure expression of community. If everyone could experience this kind of joy, the world would be a better place.

Hero Hughs

I’ve been going to the Revels with my grandparents, mom and brother since before I can remember. I always got up to dance around the room with everyone! One of my favorite memories was going on stage for the 12 Days of Christmas. I was “Six Geese A-laying!”

Hero Hughs onstage during 12 Days of Christmas

Burl Ross

I will never forget the moment early in our Revels working relationship that Betsy and I bonded. It was in a moment of creative wrangling as we were working out a "pre-show" musical/comedy bit that she abruptly turned to me and spat, “I just HATE you, and I hate your ass FACE!” Stunned, and recognizing immediately this famous Christopher Guest line from “Waiting for Guffman”, I burst into laughter and knew instantly that Betsy and I were of the same twisted mind, and would be collaborating in creative harmony for years to come. Here's to you and your lovely ass face, Betsy! You are my favorite bastard person!

Give Joy – Media

A legacy of joy…

From Robert and Betsy

Memories and Testimonials

Chorus

Illiana May

Seth Truby

Theresa Beck van Heemstra

Jenna Dalton

Craig Dermer

David Edwards

Cat Galimidi

Linda Golaszewski

Laura Chisholm

Cynthia Gulick

Debbi Irvine

George Kunz

Gerard Lester

Jack McAnulty

Stephanie McBride

Andy McLain

Leslie Moclock

Lee Haas Norris

Kathy Paxton Williams

Anne-Marie Plass

Dick and Patty Reed

Charley Rowley

Kate Schuyler

Angela Truby

Randy Tucker

Board Members

Judith Meckling

Nancy Molina

Allison McGillivray

Audience & Guest Artists

Hero Hughs

Burl Ross

Success!

A Favorite Revels Memory from Robert

Betsy: The Best Parts of Making and Performing in Revels Shows

Betsy's Playlist: A Personal Connection

Bruce Akpan Hostetler

Illiana May

Lauren Bloom Hanover

Seth Truby

Theresa Beck van Heemstra

Jenna Dalton

Craig Dermer

David Edwards

Cat Galimidi

Linda Golaszewski

Laura Franklin Chisholm

Cynthia Gulick

Debbi Irvine

George Kunz

Gerard Lester

Jack McAnulty

Stephanie McBride

Andy McLain

Leslie Moclock

Lee Haas Norris

Kathy Paxton Williams

Anne-Marie Plass

Dick and Patty Reed

Kate Schuyler

Angela Truby

Randy Tucker

Judith Meckling

Nancy Molina

Allison McGillivray

Hero Hughs

Burl Ross