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loved playing the Suzuki songs, but I also loved to sing and sang in a group like the Tacoma Youth Chorus (the Northwest Boychoir) as well. I also took piano lessons from my mother, and later from a local high school student named Rick Steves (yes, he grew up to be THE Rick Steves!). I loved all of these things (and continue to), but by the time I was finishing grade school I knew I had to make a choice. I gave violin my all, but learned a bit of guitar, and occasionally sang in choirs. When I was

native of Memphis, Tennessee, mentored by jazz piano great James Williams. He studied composition with Donald Freund and Jonathan Kramer, and ethnomusicology with David Evans. Dr. Deacon-Joyner came to western Washington from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he held the position of Associate Professor of Jazz Studies from 1986 to 2000. He received his Bachelor’s degree in composition and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Memphis, and his master’s degree in composition from

said. “I would love to be on tour and stuff and record music, but if that doesn’t happen, I would be happy to record in a studio or have my own studio.” The Olson Bros band has a solid repertoire of 30 or so cover songs; Olson plays electric and acoustic guitar and piano, and his brother plays mandolin and guitar. Together they write the original music for the band. Sunrise, like most art that feels truly authentic, arose very organically. “I had to get up early a lot,” Olson said. “Sometimes I

structure and notes finally began to emerge during Thanksgiving, in Wyoming,  in his sister’s basement. Nance tried to tune out the homey laughter upstairs. He mulled over his piece, eventually named “The Magnificat” in the downstairs den. Sis had no piano, so Nance had to compose the piece entirely in his head. “Still, I think now, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” said Nance. Of late, Youtz has drawn much of his inspiration from the Far East, taking two sabbaticals to China, the first by

, happy family. We completed the 3,000-mile journey by returning along the Pacific Coast Highway, singing in Lutheran churches, visiting towns and having picnic lunches on warm beaches. All too soon, we were back in Washington. Home again at PLC, all we could say was, “Wow. What a trip!” Read Previous Lute Plays Piano ‘Up Close with the Masters’ Read Next Cosmosis: combining the art of music with the inquiry of science LATEST POSTS PLU’s Director of Jazz Studies, Cassio Vianna, receives grant from the

Facebook. KPLU Christmas Jam  Dec. 10 | 12 p.m. |Karen Hille Phillips Performing Arts Center 88.5 KPLU’s 19th Annual KPLU Christmas Jam features tenor saxophonist Anton Schwartz. Anton will perform Christmas selections with the University Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. David Deacon-Joyner, who will play piano with Anton’s quartet, which also includes bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer Mark Ivester. Free to the Public | The event will be live streamed at www.kplu.org. 25th Annual Winterfest

Scholarship Weekend—and being awarded the Harstad Founder’s Scholarship. “The people I’ve met at PLU have inspired me to do well in multiple areas, because it’s possible to do many things at once,” she notes—including a roommate who excels in environmental studies, chemistry, and piano. Over the past four years, Beeson’s interests have included orchestra, dance, photography and art. During her time at PLU, Beeson maintained several leadership positions, including social justice director of the Associated

professor and director of jazz studies at PLU. He is a native of Memphis, Tenn., mentored by jazz piano great James Williams. Deacon-Joyner came to western Washington from the University of North Texas in Denton, where he held the position of associate professor of jazz studies from 1986 to 2000. He has served as clinician and adjudicator at festivals and workshops in Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, California, New Mexico, Idaho and Washington. He is the lead instructor for the Great

did you first become interested in music? My musical journey was slow at first. The piano was my first instrument. I had a natural ear for music as a child, and taught myself to play. When I turned 10, I moved from the Pacific Northwest to North Carolina, where I started singing in the children’s choir and playing handbells for my church. I joined a concert band at school … band was my favorite. I played euphonium. The Essential Elements band folders we used for concert band came with free

, students have to learn to read music well, know something about the theory behind musical structure, and work at developing their instrument, no matter what that is. I think it’s even better if they can perform on more than one instrument—voice/piano, voice/violin, voice/trumpet—it helps deepen your musical understanding. Students who display pride and dedication to their work and great organizational skill do very well. And finally, be a team player! In your time at PLU, what have you learned from