il’1' n rt Et nb tOhsvruer CAREER
May 23, 2007
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p e c ia l
e d i t i o n
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E d u c a tio n
Keepinglhe Faith
Pacific Power,
a MidAmerican Energy Holdings
Company, is part o f the Berkshire Hathaway
family and the largest utility in the Pacific Northwest.
photo by J erky H art /C oi rtesy
P ortland C ommunity C ollege
When Chandra Curtis first heard opera, she thought that must be what angels sound like. Today,
the Portland Community College student is an accomplished opera singer. She is preparing
audition material to enter the voice program at Yale University.
continued
from Hl
vocal training. She pursued voice
work with the diligence of a
monk, practicing daily in a quiet
space where she could isolate
the disparate elements of her
body that produce extraordinary
sound and then concentrate on
combining them to ecstatic ef
fect.
For her exceptional aca-
coach who would prepare me
for vocal studies at Yale." She'd
planned long-term to secure a
Certificate of Voice from Yale
University. "Right then, I knew
I wanted to study with someone
who was doing what I would be
doing or had been where I am
going."
Curtis got onto the Internet,
found and contacted renowned
o p e ra
sin g e r
E lizabeth
one-on-one with Saunders.
She'll be honing her vocal and
breathing technique and pre
paring audition material to en
ter the voice program at Yale.
Fine-tuning the beautiful in
strum ent that is her voice, she
is p rep a rin g to m eet still
greater opportunities in this
limitless world.
"It's all about combustion,"
Curtis says. "Two notes com-
Work harder than anyone else. Learn everything about
your craft and then return to square one and re-learn
what you learned so you know it intellectually and
experientially. Love what you do. Then love it more.
Keep the faith, in fact let exhaustion strengthen your
faith. Such is Chandra Curtis' method fo r success; a
method that has opened door after door to her dream of
singing opera professionally.
demic work, Curtis landed on
the PCC Dean's list winter
term. She planned to continue
studying science and acting
with a focus on voice, continu
ing intense supplem entary
voice lessons, and perhaps per
form ing with The Portland
O pera.
But plans change.
"One night," she says, "I sat
straight up in my bed and the
idea came to move to New
Haven and study with an opera
Saunders, then sent her an e-
mail citing her qualifications
and inquiring if Saunders might
work with her. A few days
passed.
"I prayed to God to send me
a sign," Curtis says. Saunders,
then in Japan singing in a pre
sentation of M adame Butter
fly, responded to her e-mail.
She'd be pleased to take Curtis
on as a student.
Curtis will travel to C on
necticut this month to work
ing together to create some
thing different and beautiful."
Curtis, huff as an athlete,
races from Starbucks to re
turn to her studies and her
plans.
"I truly love to study," she
says, "but the solitude can be a
dangerous thing." Still, every
time she leaves solitude for
the public arena she rises to
the top. Her secret is her own
in can d escen ce com busting
with hard work.
We bring people together in a workplace that sets standards for excellence and
enables us to provide enriching career experiences. It is our goal to be a magnet to
energetic professionals looking for a place to grow. We currently seek energetic
professionals for the following opportunities:
Entry-Level up through
Senior-Level Engineers
Main Grid Planning • Protection & Control • Electrical
Substation/Civil • Transmission • Mechanical
Our commitment to developing individuals to their full potential includes competitive
salaries, progressive technology, ongoing training, excellent benefits and professional
advancement. We proudly offer outstanding career opportunities in a wide variety of
locations and disciplines. To explore opportunities w ith Pacific Power, please visit:
w w w .p a c ific o rp .c o m
Click on the CAREERS button the search AVAILABLE POSITIONS.
PACIFIC PO W ER
A DIVISION OF PACIFICORP
Pacific Power is an equal o pp ortun ity em ployer tha t values the diversity o f people a nd ideas in the w orkplace
Advance.
Succeed.
For every Portland police
officer, there is a story...
; OFFICER
Officer Dana Lewis
Five reasons to jo in us.
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only way to make a
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Join us and write the
next chapter.
(i^bscrucr
call 503.288.0033
or email: ads@portlandobserver.com
Grow.
Registration and application deadline for the next entry-level and lateral officer test Is June 25, 2007. Visit:
www.joinportlandpolice.com
uup
You want to fit in : You want to be an individual
Ever wondered how two contradictory ideas can both be right?
At Warner Pacific College, no matter what degree you choose, you’ll
develop and use critical thinking skills to understand and evaluate
m ultiple solutions. In learning how to wrestle with life’s toughest
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www.warnerpacific.edu
(503.517.1000 — 503.517.1352
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