Résumé, Winter, 1990, Volume 21, Issue 01 Alumni Association, WWU
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Western Washington University Western CEDAR Western Reports and Résumé Western Publications Winter 1990 Résumé, Winter, 1990, Volume 21, Issue 01 Alumni Association, WWU Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/alumni_reports Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Alumni Association, WWU, "Résumé, Winter, 1990, Volume 21, Issue 01" (1990). Western Reports and Résumé. 213. https://cedar.wwu.edu/alumni_reports/213 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Western Publications at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western Reports and Résumé by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Report to Alumni and Other Friends of Western Washington University Inside... Peter LaBarge and Jo Metzger have been named Western Washington University Athletes of the Decade. See page 7 Opera singer on the rise page 1 Alumni news page 2 Help with wills page 4 First phone-a-thon a success page 4 Sports update page 7 Travel opportunity back page Vol. 21, No. 1 A Report to Alumni and Other Friends of Western Washington University Winter 1990 by Gail Stark death. When I won, I was shocked.” Reprinted with permission Adjusting to New York was difficult. from The Bellingham Herald. Grant missed Bellingham’s natural beauty and leisurely pace. But the f you have scoffed at the idea of chance to work at what she loved destiny, read on. For Heidi Lynn Grant, it seems, was born to sing. was worth sacrifices. This demure minister’s daughter — “For a young singer, it’s probably I the most ideal place to be,” Grant described by a dose friend as “very humble” — is playing out a script that said. “I think I’ve learned nwre from most of us only read about in star watching the other singers than any biographies. thing else ... and it’s not just the She is singing with New York’s singing ... but the way they interpret Metropolitan Opera. Only 24 years a character. You learn what you like old, the 1987 graduate of Western and what you don’t like.” was one of 11 national winners win That includes “star” temperament. nowed from about 3,000 in a series Grant admits to being disillusioned of auditions. And of those 11, she by the haughtiness of some of her was the only-one offered a position in favorite singers. She vows that the Met’s Young Artists Development would never happen to her. Program in 1988. Heidi Grant Photo courtesy of The Bellingham Herald. “I feel so fortunate,” Grant said. What that means is that for three And about a week after they both Pullan advised her that teaching “I’ve been entrusted with a gift. I try years. Grant receives a $20,000 an got in, choir diredor Merv Sliger would be there, but opportunities for to give back what I can.” nual stipend plus free coaching in pulled her aside and told her, “You a professional singing career were Coming back to the Northwest — foreign language, didion and voice have a very interesting voice, a nice tenuous. She needed to seize the as she did in December to sing (in a city where an hour-long voice vibrato.” moment. He recommended some Handel’s “Messiah” with Pullan’s lesson can cost anywhere from $50- “What’s a vibrato?” Grant asked. graduate schools, but before Grant Vancouver, B.C., Bach Choir — $150). And union wages for any “That’s how much I knew about it.” could make a decision, fate stepped helps keep her grounded. stage work she does. She credits Sliger with sparking her in and pointed a finger. “It’s nice to come back, because But more important, she is working interest in singing. In a joint college/community con it’s real,” Grant said. “I’ve learned with, watching — and learning from — “He never pushed me too hard,” cert, Grant sang “Carmina Burena” that I have to work at being myself. I the best in the business. Her last Grant said. “But he knew I had some opposite guest artist Norman Phillips, have a lot of friends who are in part, for example, was as a second thing. He slowly gave me solos and a baritone from Indiana University in secure. They’re afraid that people “cover,” or understudy, for the role of nurtured my love for singing. He Bloomington — one of the top music like them for what they do and not Rosina in “The Barber of Seville.” never said “You should be a singer.” programs in the United States. for who they are. And in some ways, The sopranos she was covering for? When she entered Western, it was “This man heard me sing and was that’s true. But you can’t think like Marilyn Home and Kathleen Battle. as an education major. She doubled very interested in me,” Grant said. that all the time.” “What I’m hearing is that she’s up, adding a performance major to “He wanted me to come to lU.” Grant maintains close ties with going to be more than just another her education studies. Again, she She was nervous. friends and family. During her stop in Met singer,” says WWU music depart was fortunate in her mentors. Vocal “I’d heard it was a big place and Bellingham during the holidays, she ment chairman Bruce Pullan. “People coach Marianne Weltmann provided kind of scary, but I decided — where made time to visit an elderly church are saying she may be the next Kath gentle guidance. else can I find out if I can do it? It friend in a convalescent home. leen Battle.” As she approached her senior was sink or swim. And I swam.” “She loves people and would do The notoriety of winning such an ex year, she realized that she needed While at lU, she gained a lot of ex anything for anybody,” her friend Jill alted competition brought her an to make a choice. If she were going perience in singing on stage with an Buckman said. “Her friends are im agent and job offers without any initia to teach, she needed to finish up her orchestra. And she learned about portant, but God is most important.” tive on her part. Job offers she had to degree and get on with student competitions. Indeed, Grant attributes her good turn down. teaching. But if she was serious She entered the Met auditions in fortune to a greater source. And therein lies the amazing asped about singing, it was important to go Seattle as a kind of lark, because “At this point, I’ve never chosen of Grant’s story. She had a gift. Bring to graduate school and find out what she would be in the area for anything,” Grant said. “It’s chosen ing it to its ultimate fulfillment seemed she could do. Christmas vacation. me.... Sure I’ve done my work and as effortless and as natural as a river In a quandary, she sought advice “I didn’t think I had a chance,” my practicing and learned my roles, coursing to the ocean. from Pullan. Grant said. but I’ve never had to pound the pave Grant got into singing by accident. “I told her, ‘I hardly ever say this, She was surprised when she won ment or knock on doors.” Although she had enjoyed singing as because music is such an insane district, even more surprised when Will she test her talent to the a personal expression of joie-de- business, but I think you can do it.”' she won regional. When she went to limits? vivre, she only joined the chorus at Pullan said. “And it’s not just her New York to compete with the other “I trust the Lord that He’s going to Bellingham High School because a voice,” he says. “There are good 26 regional winners, she was the keep it going, and when He decides friend did. When that friend audi voices hanging off every tree. When youngest singer there. to slow it down — maybe when it’s tioned for the more select concert she walks on stage, you look at her. “Listening to them, I thought, I time to start a family — then that will choir. Grant did, too. She’s got presence.” could never do this. I was scared to come to pass,” Grant said. Insight Books release of Human profession of vows June 4. She munity band ... Sandra J. Wall was for You and Yours, offers therapy to Sciences Press, Inc. of New York entered the novitiate in 1981 ... hired by the State Board for Com Individuals, families, groups, senior Roll Call City. The book includes an analysis Richard R. Frishholz is employed munity College Education as assis citizens and minorities. She earned of the job market and the changing by the State of Washington In the tant director of student services. a graduate degree in counseling patterns of work. Department of Social and Health 70 Randall Fortenberry and 74 Dr. Michael Seyler relocated from Seattle University in 1986. Sharon Fortenberry (’87) have Services and was recently awarded 72 Navy Lt. Cmdr. Eugene L his dental practice to new offices at 75 Bill Roberts was chosen as been hired by the Issaquah School the “Outstanding Employee for Ex Thomas recently received the Navy the North Creek Business Park In the new Peshastin Elementary District as fellow principals. Randall cellence in Service.” Achievement Medal for superior per Bothell ... Navy Lt. Henry C. Muller School principal. will be principal at Clark Elementary formance of duty while serving 73 Fred Moody, who writes for has been awarded the Navy Com 77 Dan Williamson graduated and Sharon will be principal at Briar- aboard the aircraft carrier USS the Seattle Weekly, recently publish mendation Medal for meritorious from Juilliard School of Music in wood Elementary.