Farmhouse Performances was founded by Reba Lawless-Berdakin and Damian Berdakin as a dual purpose arts organization in 2016 to bring awareness to the importance of one of Washington County's historical farming landmarks, The Lawless Family Farmhouse c.1868, by bringing together and enriching the diverse surrounding community with arts performances, workshops and classes in it's summer concert and arts series.
Reba
A native of Portland Oregon, Reba has a long history of building forts, chasing chickens and hanging goat cheese from the basement ceiling on her family's farm. Born and raised on the farm, Reba ventured off to Boston to study vocal arts at the Boston Conservatory, Longy School of Music and Berklee College of Music. Additionally, Reba is a graduate of the professional chef program of The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. After singing and cooking her way through Boston, Los Angeles and abroad, Reba now lives on the farm with her husband and daughter.
Damian
Born and raised in Córdoba Argentina, Damian made his way north in 2002 to study Double Bass and Conducting at Longy School of Music in Boston and California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. In LA, Damian was an artist teacher with the LA Philharmonic and Music Director the Pacific Lyric Association to name a few. And, in Salem, he directs the South Salem High School Orchestras. Damian is pretty serious about vegetables, small family farming and gardening too. He can often be seen sporting his "Real Men Eat Veggies" T-shirt to his rehearsals.
Clara
Born in Salem Oregon in 2013, Clara is an avid puddle stomper. She enjoys a good potty joke and is a big fan of bean burritos and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, dill and feta. Digging in the garden and finding "Do" on the piano also rank rather high. Clara loves "feeding the chicks" on the farm and can't wait to show you how.