Chemeketa Community College to build top music program

When Kerry Burtis, director of choirs at North Salem High School, moved to Salem 12 years ago, he was struck by an aberration in Salem-Keizer's music community. The Salem-Keizer School District had the top music program in the state, but Chemeketa Community College lacked a music program.

Burtis is changing that.

"Chemeketa should be known as one of the top music programs in the state because of what we’re fed by," Burtis said.

Two years ago, Burtis revived Chemeketa's choir.

"My immediate goal was simply more performance opportunities for recent graduates of the high schools in town who had a desire to continue performing," he said.

Burtis has been working with Don Brase, Chemeketa's dean of humanities and communications, to build a comprehensive music program at the college.

“The momentum we’ve had in the last year has just been tremendous," Brase said. "Kerry has tremendous energy and vision. That’s brought momentum and brought in high-quality people we knew we already had in Salem ... As soon as we can, we’ll offer (music) as a major.”

Last year, Burtis recruited Todd Zimbelman, director of bands at West Salem High School, to start a band at Chemeketa. This term, Stephen Nelson, director of Sprague High School's orchestra, will start a string orchestra. Private voice lessons, music theory and general appreciation classes are being offered. Private piano and instrumental lessons will be in place by spring term. To see a comprehensive list of class offerings, go to chemeketa.edu/programs/music/courses.html.

Burtis and Brase's long-term goal is a two-year music program that prepares Chemeketa's students to transfer to universities and conservatories with a level of education and musicality that matches or surpasses that of juniors at four-year institutions.

Brase said Chemeketa President Julie Huckestein is supporting the effort.

“We’re dedicated to making sure we can get them started on that path to music major or minor," Brase said. "They’ll have more and more options as we continue to build this. It’s gone from a nonentity to an actual option now.”

In the past, Chemeketa had music offerings but nothing comprehensive, Brase said. One reason for this is the college's lack of facilities. Music classes meet in general classrooms. Brase has turned away people who wanted to donate pianos because the lack of space.

“We don’t have a dedicated space for performance arts, but we’re headed toward that. That is one of our visions," Brase said. "We want a fine arts and performing arts center at Chemeketa. If you don’t build a building specifically for something and you’re making due, it doesn’t provide what students need."

Brase is investigating how Mt. Hood and Clackamas community colleges utilized private fundraising for building projects.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen,” he said.

A day in the life at band camp, with West and North Salem

Burtis stressed that the choir, band and orchestra are open to the larger community. There are credit and noncredit options. The ensembles currently rehearse at night, but he hopes to have additional offerings during the day in the next two years.

"We want to be a place of learning for all levels in the community," Burtis said. "Whether it’s recreation or the intent to move on.”

Those interested in joining the ensembles should contact the Humanities and Communications Department at (503) 399-5184.

TRastrelli@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 983-6030, facebook.com/RastrelliSJ and on Twitter @RastrelliSJ

For more information about Chemeketa Community College's music classes and ensembles, which are open to the public, contact the Humanities and Communications Department at (503) 399-5184, humanities@chemeketa.edu or chemeketa.edu/programs/music/. Registration for classes and ensembles is through Oct. 2. The week after that, students need instructor permission.