In recognition of founding director Bernie Kuehn’s 30 years of service and contribution to the community, the Oregon Chorale has established an ongoing, endowed scholarship in partnership with the Hillsboro Community Foundation. This scholarship is awarded to one graduating high school senior each year who plans to major or minor in music at a university.

If you have questions about applying or are interested in donating to the Bernie Kuehn Music Scholarship, please contact us at admin@oregonchorale.org.

Bernie Kuehn Music Scholarship

Application Form

Scholarship Founder’s Circle

Betty Adams in memory of Robert Lammlen

Bill & Dottie Baldwin

Terry Blackburn

Steve & Joan Callaway

Timothy & Deanne Carlisle

John & Nan Dahlquist

Ed & Karin Doyle

Kayse Durgan

Robert & Kendra Friar

Timothy R. Hall

Ralph & Marilynn Helzerman

Hillsboro Pharmacy Coffee Group

Bernd R. Kuehn

Karen Helen Kuehn

The Lien Sisters

Diane Gatke

Karen Kenyon

Kristina DeShazo

Launa Rae Mathews

Paul & Linda Minor

Brad & Linda Needham

Rodgers Instruments Corporation

Mark & Theresa Savoy

Christopher & Kathleen Schaefer

Oregon Chorale Altos

Oregon Chorale Basses

Oregon Chorale Tenors

Oregon Chorale Sopranos

Raymond & Silverna Scott

Vance & Kyle Sele

Colin & Victoria Shepard

Susan & Ron Swingen

Cindy & Jeffry Uecker

Gordon Zaft

2023-2024 Scholarship Donors

Hillsboro Community Foundation

Scholarship Winners

Leo Trajano

Leo Trajano ,18, is a violinist from Hillsboro, Oregon. He started playing piano at age 5 and violin at age 8. He is a student of Jessica Lee and previously studied with Kevin Lefohn. His principal piano teachers were Maria Garcia and Susan Todd.
Leo serves as co-concertmaster of the Portland Youth Philharmonic and is a member of Camerata PYP. He has been awarded solo performances with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Oregon Mozart Players, the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, the Willamette Falls Symphony, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony.
Leo was the winner of the 2024-2025 Oregon MTNA Senior Strings Competition, and he has been the recipient of a Monday Musical Club of Portland Music Award. He has been a member of NYO-USA (National Youth Orchestra) and NYO2, and he has attended Chamber Music Northwest Young Artist Institute, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Madeline Island Chamber Music for Strings.
This fall, Leo will be attending The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music to study violin performance. In addition to playing violin, Leo is an enthusiastic member of the Glencoe High School Choir, and he continues to play piano, often as an accompanist for student musicians.
In his free time, he enjoys pop music, movies, theater, and long walks.

2026 Scholarship Winner