Richard Ellis at Naselle's Finnish American Folk Festival

The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle is pleased to announce a returning musician from festivals past . . .

Richard Ellis, tenor

With his soaring tenor, Richard Ellis can fill a church, an auditorium, or a stadium with opera, folk, or gospel music. Raised in a family of great singers, Richard began singing when he was young. For 15 years he was soloist on the NBC-aired Harvest Temple Time. He toured with his father Vep Ellis, a noted pastor, singer, and songwriter who wrote more than 500 gospel hymns. Richard now performs on tour with his three brothers in a gospel quartet, singing their father’s songs.

Richard has also preformed and studied with some of the country’s finest conductors and vocal coaches. He was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Sarasota, Florida in 1974. He was soloist with the Oregon Symphony and the Portland Symphonic Choir performing Handel’s Messiah. He is a featured anthem singer for the Portland Trailblazers. Mr. Ellis was the resident tenor with the Florida Opera Company. He has performed lead and supporting roles in La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, Cosi Fan Tutte, Die Fledermaus, The Student Prince, The Merry Widow and many others.

Richard is Irish-American, but we accept him as “one of our own” — as well we should, since he has lived in the region a long time, and married Marjorie Wirkkala . . . of the region’s largest Finnish family.

The Finnish-American Folk Festival presents:

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	The Finnish American Folk Festival of Naselle is pleased to announce a returning musician from festivals past . . . Richard Ellis, tenor With his soaring tenor, Richard Ellis can fill a church, an auditorium, or a stadium with opera, folk, or gospel music. Raised in a family of great singers, Richard began singing when he was young. For 15 years he was soloist on the NBC-aired Harvest Temple Time. He toured with his father Vep Ellis, a noted pastor, singer, and songwriter who wrote more than 500 gospel hymns. Richard now performs on tour with his three brothers in a gospel quartet, singing their father’s songs. Richard has also preformed and studied with some of the country’s finest conductors and vocal coaches. He was a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Sarasota, Florida in 1974. He was soloist with the Oregon Symphony and the Portland Symphonic Choir performing Handel’s Messiah. He is a featured anthem singer for the Portland Trailblazers. Mr. Ellis was the resident tenor with the Florida Opera Company. He has performed lead and supporting roles in La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, Cosi Fan Tutte, Die Fledermaus, The Student Prince, The Merry Widow and many others. Richard is Irish-American, but we accept him as “one of our own” — as well we should, since he has lived in the region a long time, and married Marjorie Wirkkala . . . of the region’s largest Finnish family. More music at the festival: finnam.naselle.net/2008/music/.