3 PAST TENSE Making Music: The Music Department’s Beginnings ortland State’s music program was created at Vanport Extension Center, relocated to the old Oregon Shipyards after the flood of 1948 destroyed Vanport City, the college’s initial site. In these beginning years (1948-49), Howard Backlund was hired as a full-time instructor (two-thirds in Secretarial Science and one-third in Music) to help the Extension Center begin development of its music program. Verne Wilson, from the Portland Public School’s Music Program, was also brought in part-time as an instructor. Backlund and Wilson teamed as music instructors at Vanport College. Wilson, who focused on the Vanport Band, later directed the Music Program for Portland Public Schools, served as adjunct faculty member in Music at Portland State, and contributed to the professional literature on the importance of music education in the school’s curriculum. Backlund, who focused on the Vanport Choir, was Howard Backlund in 1962 instrumental in promoting music education for the Center throughout its early years, prior to the move to the Park Blocks in 1952 as Portland State Extension Center. Howard directed the 1949 Annual Spring Concert, which included a performance by the “Vanport College Choir, Band, Quartette, and Soloists.” Backlund went on to complete his Master’s Degree and continued full-time at Portland State as Assistant Professor in Secretarial Science, his academic specialty. John H. Stehn retired from the University of Oregon as band and concert director in 1950 and was recruited to head the Department of Music at Vanport College, which became Portland State College in 1955. Stehn immediately implemented plans to expand the Music Department, expending considerable time, energy, and skill to achieve this goal. At Portland State he was known for his equal treatment of men and women in music band education, for his forceful but soft-spoken voice, and for his patience and efforts to help students succeed. John was a leader and one of the guiding forces behind the band movement in the Pacific Northwest. He served as president of the Oregon Music Education Association (1951-52) and made numerous appearances in the region as guest conductor and judge of band festivals and contests. John Stehn in 1957 I came to Oregon from Los Angeles in 1955 to play bassoon in what was then the Portland Symphony Orchestra. In 1959 I was hired by Stehn to conduct the band and teach conducting at Portland State College. As we had to wear many hats in those days, I also taught music theory and ear-training (solfeggio). Finally I got to add courses in my specialty, the music of Latin America. These times were both challenging and rewarding for faculty and students who participated in and contributed to forming PSU’s Music Department. --Gordon A. Solie, Professor Emeritus of Music, with additional information contributed by Steve Brannan PAST TENSE features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea for one), email the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu. P
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