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

Andres Herrera

Andres has been passionate about music almost all his life. His journey on the drums started at just three years old, and he’s still practicing and perfecting his craft to this day. Not only does he play drums, but he also sings, dances, and plays piano and guitar. Andres was highly involved in the Century High School Band program, winning many accolades and leadership positions from soloist awards to being the drumline section leader. Not only did he play in both the jazz band and drum line, he also dedicated a great amount of time into releasing music under his stage name, “Dre Heir”, through studio work at Century.

His songs include titles such as “Planet Bliss”, “Blindsided”, and “My Intentions”. These songs can be found across all platforms, as his dream is to become one of the world’s greatest entertainers among his heroes such as Michael Jackson and Prince. In order to achieve this success, Andres will be studying during the next four years at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He will be majoring in performance, and minoring in production. Andres is very excited for this next step in his musical journey, and is highly looking forward to giving back to his family, and his community.

2025 Scholarship Winner

Tia Smith

Tia Smith, a Liberty High School graduate and Valedictorian, will attend the University of Oregon in the fall to study choral music education. She values music and music, having 8 years of experience in instrumental ensembles playing the trumpet and mellophone, as well as 4 years of choir experience as a soprano and alto.
Tia is a part of the Liberty High School Marching Band working as section leader and field captain, wind ensemble, concert choir, Volare ensemble, and the Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir, and has performed lead roles in numerous musicals including SpongeBob, The Little Mermaid, and Ride The Cyclone. She also does solo and duet work, taking second place in the small mixed ensemble category with Mason Koepen, a fellow student, at the OMEA State Ensemble Contest. She qualified and competed as a classical soprano in the OMEA State Solo Contest.
An active member of the community, Tia has helped fundraise for the public library and is a part of the National Honor Society.
Tia is looking forward to developing her piano skills and teaching strategies in college so she can become a high school or collegiate level choir director.

2025 Scholarship Winner