Ryan Bede, baritone

Born and raised in Tacoma, WA, baritone Ryan Christopher Bede made his Seattle Opera solo debut in May 2017 as the Second Priest in The Magic Flute, followed by Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Jim Crowley in An American Dream and Fiorello in The Barber Of Seville in the 2017-18 season.

He returns as Moralés in Carmen in May 2019. He also returns to Opera Idaho this season as Masetto in Don Giovanni after performing Papageno in The Magic Flute to great acclaim. In the Spring of 2019 he makes his role debut as Belcore in The Elixir Of Love with Tacoma Opera, where he has appeared in numerous roles such as Moralés/Le Dancaïre in Carmen, Tiger Brown in The Threeepenny Opera, Papageno, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Schaunard in La Boheme and the Pirate King in The Pirates Of Penzance. Recent concert engagements have included Handel's Messiah with both the Bremerton Symphony and Federal Way Symphony, Spectrum Dance Theater's acclaimed production of Carmina Burana as well as Bach's Christmas Oratorio with Early Music Vancouver/Pacific Musicworks, conducted by Stephen Stubbs. He has been a frequent soloist with Orchestra Seattle in such masterpieces as Fauré's Requiem, Duruflé's Requiem, Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten, and Vaughan Williams's Fantasia On Christmas Carols. He sang Rutter's Mass Of The Children with the Everett Chorale and Bellevue Presbyterian Church, and in the summer of 2017 he performed the bass solo in Mozart's Requiem in Sofia and Varna, Bulgaria under the baton of Dr. Steven Zopfi and Dr. Scott Glysson.

Other recent performances have included a solo appearance with the Cal Poly Symphony & Chorus (Duruflé Requiem and Ravel Don Quichotte a Dulcinée), the role of the Land Speculator in the premiere of Sarah Mattox's opera Heart Mountain with Vespertine Opera, Samuel Barber's Dover Beach with the Seattle-based Bella Sala Ensemble, Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus and Morales/Dancaire with Pacific Northwest (formerly Skagit) Opera, and Albert in Werther with Vashon Opera. He spent a summer as an Emerging Artist with Opera New Jersey and has also performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras in the Pacific Northwest.

He is a former Young Artist with Tacoma Opera and the Aspen Opera Theater Center, and was a two-time recipient of the Seattle Opera Guild Singers Training Fund Grant. He completed his studies at the University of Puget Sound and the University of Washington, and now frequently performs as a lecturer and preview artist for the Seattle Opera Guild. He presently serves as the baritone soloist and section leader at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, and teaches voice at the University Of Puget Sound and Tacoma Community College, as well as maintaining a private studio in the Tacoma area.

Dave Beck, narrator

Dave Beck, cellist, joined the staff of Listener Supported Classical KING FM in September, 2013 as the afternoon music host. He is also the host and producer of the Seattle Symphony Spotlight on KING FM. Dave previously produced and hosted award-winning interviews and features at KUOW Public Radio as part of the KUOW programs Weekday, The Beat, and KUOW Presents. He was at Seattle’s KUOW from 1985, beginning his career there as classical music host and music director. An active musician as well as broadcaster, Dave is a member of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra and has served as principal cellist of the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra and the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra. His non-profit board service includes Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (Board Chair 2006-2008), Simple Measures, and the MENC’s Young Musicians Excelling. He has performed in the Seattle-based chamber music society Klassikon and in the Bravura String Quartet. A University of Washington music graduate, Dave’s cello instructors have included Toby Saks, Raymond Davis, and Cordelia Wikarski-Miedel.

Linda Gingrich, chorus master

Linda Gingrich, long-time Issaquah resident, is the founder and conductor of Master Chorus Eastside. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Masters of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, and her Bachelor's degree in voice from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She is also a performing member of the Ladies Musical Club. She has many years experience with church choirs, in college and private teaching, as an arranger, lecturer and author. Dr. Gingrich is a published composer, and MCE has premiered a number of her works. Master Chorus Eastside's achievements are due primarily to Gingrich's inspiration. She has transformed a group of 25 rusty-voiced amateurs in 1991 into a talented 50-voice ensemble which sings with "zest and panache" (EastsideWeek). Dr. Gingrich has a passion for choral conducting, and according to reviewer Phillipa Kiraly (EastsideWeek, Arts Groups to Watch), is "musical to her fingertips." Dr. Gingrich's incomparable dedication and commitment to presenting enjoyable and inspired musical programs to the community east of Seattle is truly a gift shared by performers and audience members alike.

Master Chorus Eastside: http://www.masterchoruseastside.org/.