Soprano Jane Thorngren and pianist Duane Funderburk have worked together as collaborators since 1988. They will perform at The Norwegian Church and Cultural Center on Monday January 16 at 7 pm. Jane Thorngren has found herself appearing extensively as a soprano in leading operatic roles throughout the world. Funderbuck has performed as collaborator with artists throughout the United States and in 12 countries abroad, and performed with orchestras and as a duo in 50 concerts annually around the world.
Together they have performed in venues along the West Coast, Iowa, New York City, and with the Armenian Philharmonic in Yerevan. Throughout their long-lasting association many arrangements by Duane have been created for voice, piano and orchestra, written for and dedicated to Jane. This current tour represents music for voice and piano that captures the spirit and variety of repertoire they both enjoy presenting in their concerts.
After growing up on a farm in Iowa, Jane Thorngren found herself appearing extensively as a soprano in leading operatic roles and on concert stages throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America and Asia. She has been heard in two Live from Lincoln Centerbroadcasts with New York City Opera, in the title role of The Merry Widowand as Musetta in the Emmy-winning La Bohème. Her extensive oratorio experience includes appearances with the symphonies of Pittsburgh, Seattle, Phoenix, Savannah, Hartford and Denver, chamber orchestras of New York, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Stamford as well as orchestras in Germany, The Netherlands, France, Hong Kong and Armenia. She has recorded a collection of art songs on her own CD, This and My Heart.
Duane Funderburk grew up in the Pacific Northwest where his roles as pianist and a promoter of the musical arts started early in life. He founded and arranged for his first orchestra while in junior high in Tacoma, WA, and founded a series of concerts in Everett, WA, later in Des Moines, IA, and currently in Pasadena, CA. His degrees in piano performance and collaborative piano were earned at Boston University and the University of Southern California. He has performed as collaborator with artists throughout the United States and in 12 countries abroad. He co-founded The Los Angeles Collaboration, a violin and piano duo, performing with orchestras and as a duo in 50 concerts annually around the world. Dr. Funderburk has recorded 6 compact discs, two of which include soprano Jane Thorngren. Several of his violin and piano arrangements have been recently published by MorningStar Music of St. Louis.