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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2005)
¡^Clackamas Print Feature 5 Wednesday. Nov. 2, 2005 hoir director marks 25 years cj Ciaramella feature Editor | To say that Choir Director Lonnie [line likes what he does for a living is le saying that fish enjoy water. ■ Cline has conducted choirs the lajority of his life, starting before f e was in high school. This year Lks his quarter century of teaching (Clackamas. I “I started directing church choirs lien I was 13 years old,” said Cline. When I was in high school I was the Indent director of the choir. When ■ attended college at Idaho State diversity I was toe student conduc in' my sophomore, junior, and senior ■ear, and was the only person to do It three years in a row.” ■But even while in toe midst of ■lege, Cline still found time to direct ■one, but two church choirs. ■ 'On Sunday I would do toe early ■vice with toe Lutheran church, then Jerally run up the street to direct a lethodist choir,” he said. I It was at Clackamas, however, that line found his home, and Clackamas Lind their new director. I “Clackamas finally decided it was me to hire a full-time choral direc tor/’ said Cline. “Up until then, toey only had part-time teachers. I’m the my full-time choir director the col- Le has had.” | But the choice to teach at Clackamas was not cut and dry. ‘1 had also been offered a position at the University of Arkansas,” said Cline. “They wanted me to be the director of jazz studies.” The decision, according to Cline, had less to do with wages and tenure than it did with teaching opportuni ties. ‘T ended up turning down the job at the university,” he said. ‘T had a really good feeling about Clackamas. Here I can teach classical and jazz, whereas at the university I could have only taught jazz.” In his time at Clackamas, Cline has taken his choirs far and abroad. The small European country of Estonia may seem like an odd choice of desti nation at first, but, as Cline explained, it was perfect for the choir. “Per capita more people sing in Estonia than anywhere else in the world,” said Cline. ‘Tn ‘96 one out of every two people sang in Estonia.” While in Estonia, the choir also had a unique opportunity to perform. “We were the first non-Estonian choir to be invited to sing in the Estonian World Song and Dance Jeff Sorensen Clackamas Print Choir Director Lonnie Cline rehearses with his chamber choir in the new vocal music room of the Niemeyer Center. This is Cline’s 25th year teaching at Clackamas. Festival,” said Cline On a later trip, Cline and crew were able to sing in Laulupidu, the world’s largest choral festival. The choir toey performed with “had about 30,000 people, and the audience was about half a million.” Besides traveling abroad, the new Niemeyer building, which has rooms acoustically designed for choirs, has been one of the biggest blessings to Cline and his choirs in recent years. Tn all toe time I’ve taught here I’ve taught in classrooms, stairwells, and lobbies,” said Cline. “And last year we finally got a facility. The difference is toe choirs can hear them selves.” But now, just as he is beginning to see toe serious fruits of his labor after 25 years of teaching, toe question is how much longer does Cline^plan to teach? “I think I’ll teach three more years total, including this year,” he said. “If toe Music Department wants me to come back part-time, I would do that. When I retire from toll-time teaching I plan on working with my alumni choir.” Cline concluded by saying that the Choral program at Clackamas was a group effort “Without toe support of the fac ulty, staff, administration, Music Department, and my students,” said Cline, ‘1 would have never been able to make some of my musical dreams come true.” rthur Miller's ‘All My Sons’ set to premiere in November Matthew Olson Kite Clackamas Print I The Clackamas theater depart- nent’s next production is Arthur lifer's “All My Sons.” The play about an American family dealing nth the aftermath of WWH, and the bath of one of their sons. The play II run on Nov. 10-12, 17-19 at 7 In, and Nov. 13 and 20 at 2:30 pan. [the Osterman Theatre. Arthur Miller, the playwright of kllMy Sons,” is most widely known [“Death of a Salesman.” He’s also bowned for his brief marriage to liver screen starlet Marilyn Monroe, kll My Sons” was his first commer- blly successful production, and the Hectual precursor to “Death of a Salesman.” Set in a suburban neighborhood, the Keller family’s home is the scene of all the drama, comedy and tragecfy. Throughout toe play the house is a constant witness to the unfolding complications between Joe, Kate and Chris Keller. The lead of Joe Keller, the char ismatic patriarch, is toe duty of John Renner, toe artist in residence at Niemeyer. Keller is heavily involved with the theater department, current ly teaching an improvisation class, directing a one-act play, and helping out with the Clackamas Repertory Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” Not to be confused with the Clackamas Repertory Theatre, “All My Sons” is a credited class for Clackamas students. All the actors get three credits, and any stage hands or lighting technicians get one or two credits for their part-time work. David Smith-English, the director and instructor, chose “All My Sons” because of 1he modem political situ ation. ‘We’re in a war ourselves, so our parallels are worth looking at” ‘T think you guys get it ... you guys seem to identify,” Smith-English says of the play’s commentary on war. The tragic ending of “All My Sons” exemplifies the complications for the families of fallen soldiers. At the beginning of the production, a former student, Michael Gerber, was set to direct “All My Sons.” Also a former artist in residence, Gerber had to leave the directorial duties to Smith-English early on. Two cast members had to leave the show as well, further complicating the play’s Premier Academics. Personal Experience. "... I ■ i •i 13 ■ Oregon residents: Take 8 credits or less and pay the same in-state tuition rate as Washington residents! Call 360-546-9779 for details! <—»• W ashington S tate U niversity ^V ancouver Contact Us Today! www.vancouver.wsu.edu 360-546-WSUV future. Fortunately, Smith English’s 11 years of theater experience here at Clackamas enabled him to step in. Though the play itself is most definitely a tragedy, the quick wit and humorous family interactions make for a compelling script. The actors are aware of the depth and breadth of the content, and strive every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to give due credit to a pivotal piece of American theater. Matthew Olson Clackamas Print Left to right: Seth Wrubleski, Sarah Griswold, and John Renner rehearse for the upcoming play “All My Sons.”
