The Ensemble

Evenstar Ensemble is a professional vocal group based in Portland, OR, specializing in early music, with a focus on Renaissance polyphony. The ensemble was founded by artistic director John Eisemann, bass Alex Johnson, and soprano Jen Milius.

The name Evenstar references Venus, the Evening Star—a planet long associated with the classical arts—as well as the Evensong service, where much of this repertoire was originally performed.

  • John Eisemann

    ARTISTIC & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Born in Portland and a long-time choral musician, John is the choir director at Grant High School in Portland, Oregon. He studied music education at Knox College, Galesburg IL under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane; sang for eight seasons with the Portland Symphonic Choir and Dr. Steven Zopfi; and filled in as its artistic director in 2018. John has also worked extensively on his conducting technique with Dr. Rodney Eichenberger. He has lead his chamber choir at Grant, the Royal Blues, on multiple local and international tours, and has facilitated clinics for his students with professional vocal ensembles from all over the world, including Cappella Romana, Nordic Voices, Chanticleer, Calmus Ensemble, Voces8, and the King’s Singers.

    John is also the founder and director of Portland-area chamber choir In Medio. He has sung with the Byrd International Singers for the past three summers, and has performed with members of the Byrd Ensemble and the Tallis Scholars.

  • Alexander Johnson

    BASS / SECRETARY

    Alexander Johnson is a composer, vocalist, educator, and conductor currently based in Beaverton, OR. Alex is a founding member of Evenstar Ensemble and is currently the bass section leader with Portland-based In Medio Chamber Choir (John Eisemann, director). From 2012–2014, he sang with the University of Oregon Chamber Choir, which won the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival in May 2013. He has also performed at the Oregon Bach Festival during the 2013–2015 seasons under the batons of Craig Hella Johnson, Helmuth Rilling, and Matthew Halls. While living in Austin, TX, he performed with Inversion Ensemble, Austin Cantorum, Austin Baroque Orchestra, and Ars Longa Ensemble. Alex also performed for three seasons with the Eugene-based early music vocal ensemble Vox Resonat. From 2008–2012, he sang with the Lawrence University Concert Choir, which performed at the 2009 American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Oklahoma City.

    Alex holds composition degrees from Lawrence University (B. Mus.), the University of Oregon (M.M.), and the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A.), and currently teaches at the University of Oregon and Chemeketa Community College. Alex has music published with National Music Publishers.

  • Jen Milius

    SOPRANO / TREASURER

    Jen Milius is a Portland-based soprano with an "intimate style and flawless technique" (Oregon Artswatch), known for her expressive, agile, and clear voice—uniquely suited for interpreting both early and contemporary music.

    She has performed with ensembles including Cappella Romana, the Byrd Ensemble, Radiance, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Oregon Symphony, and Big Mouth Society. Jen is a founding member of In Medio and Nexus Vocal Ensemble and has sung with the Byrd International Singers for the past three summers, performing alongside members of the Byrd Ensemble and the Tallis Scholars. She currently studies with Dr. Lisa Neher.

    By day Jen is a designer, running her own studio focused on environmental and print design, primarily for museums and arts organizations.