Bert Gulhaugen, bass

"I can't remember a time when I wasn't a musician. I have always been captivated with the amazing variety that music has to offer. I knew that being a musician was never really a choice for me but more of a necessity."

With extensive concert, recital, opera, musical theater, and vocal jazz experience, Mr. Gulhaugen has performed songs and arias by composers as diverse as Claudio Monteverdi to John Cage, Stephen Foster to Cole Porter, Gilbert and Sullivan to Stephen Sondheim, Charlie Parker to Jon Hendricks, and others.

Voice instructor

Since 1984, Mr. Gulhaugen has taught in a private studio setting, working with students of varying ages, abilities, and goals. Early on, he developed a passion for helping adults discover the joys of singing by helping them uncover the voice that already existed but had not yet been developed.

He has always strongly believed that anyone with a healthy speaking voice can learn the techniques of singing and that music, being instinctive to humans, is available to anyone who wants to take the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to enjoy it.

In the process of teaching so many adult beginner-level singers, Mr. Gulhaugen has developed a profound understanding of exactly how the voice works and how to communicate that knowledge to singers. This experience qualifies him to help advanced singers improve their technique, allowing them to sing even more expressively.

Mr. Gulhaugen believes that making music, not just listening to it, enhances our lives in boundless ways. He has an expert understanding of voice technique and its application to all styles of music including:

  • Classical
  • Jazz
  • Musical theater
  • Opera
  • Pop
  • Rock
  • Gospel
  • Folk

Soloist

Before Mr. Gulhaugen was a teacher, he was a performer, and the gratification of making music come alive has always been central to his life's purpose. In addition to being a lifelong singer, he also has a strong instrumental music background, having begun piano lessons early on as a clarinet and woodwind man through college and beyond.

As a vocal soloist, Mr. Gulhaugen has presented numerous recitals of art song, standards, and spirituals with pianist Karen Kuenzi in the Seattle area and in Boulder, Colorado. In addition, he regularly performs songs from the Great American Song Book with the renowned Seattle jazz pianist John Hansen at Tula’s Nightclub, and has appeared as the bass soloist in many Seattle area performances of Haydn, Händel, and Bach oratorios and cantatas. In addition to vocal solo work, he has a strong choral music background, having sung in the Choir of the West under Maurice Skones and Cora Voce, and with The Gloriana Singers under Deuane Kuenzi.

Opera and musical theater

As an experienced performer, Mr. Gulhaugen’s theatrical roles include:

Education

Mr. Gulhaugen holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.

Music director

In 1993, out of his deep commitment to helping adults get involved in music, Mr. Gulhaugen organized and developed Seattle Glee Clubs, a Washington State 501(C)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing choral, vocal jazz, solo, and theatrical performance opportunities for singers and theater enthusiasts of varying skill levels.

He currently directs two ensembles for Seattle Glee Clubs: The Offbeats Vocal Ensemble (vocal jazz, Latin rhythms, ballads) and The Olio Players Theatrical Troupe.