Here’s the Student Union in 1943, blended with the “vintage” couches of today… Now imagine the SU filled with all manner of bands and other tuneful entertainment! We’re kicking off a year of centennial celebrations with an all-class reunion for the ages, and to make sure that joyous sounds fill the air each and every day, we are pleased to present more than 20 talented alumni musicians and their friends at Centennial Reunions, June 6-12, 2011.
But the music is only part of the harmony. See the full schedule, including the full array of Alumni College sessions, dance happenings, informal social activities, and off-campus explorations. Then register today!
Also, you can engage in conversation and construct plans with friends via our channels on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.
Here’s the score of musical offerings (times are tentative and subject to change)…
Monday (the prelude):
Lauren Sheehan ’81, 7 p.m.
Tuesday (the overture):
Dr. Demento, 6 p.m.
Camp Reed, 9 p.m.
Wednesday (first strain):
Rebecca Parks ’85, 7 p.m.
Gilbert & Sullivan, 8 p.m.
Camp Reed, 9 p.m.
Thursday (second act):
Phil ’58 and Vivian Tomlinson Williams ’59, 7 p.m.
Gilbert & Sullivan, 8 p.m.
Gypsy Brass, 9 p.m.
Respectable Citizen, 9 p.m.
Friday (fanfare):
Russian Duo, 3 p.m.
Richard Conviser ’65, 7:30 p.m.
Jon Appleton ’61, 8:15 p.m.
HollowDog, 9 p.m.
EggDog/Love Butt, 10 p.m.
Atomic Swerve, 11 p.m.
Stop Making Sense/Talking Heads video-dance party, 11:15 p.m.
Saturday (finale):
Stumptown Family Ramblers, 1:30 p.m.
Lauren Sheehan ’81, 3:30 p.m.
Sweet Baboo, 6 p.m.
Russian Duo, 8 p.m.
Kyle Alden ’80 and friends, 8 p.m.
Face Ditch, 8 p.m.
Tikkler, 9 p.m.
Davis Rogan ’90 and his New Orleans All Star Rhythm & Blues Revue, 10 p.m.
Sunday (coda):
Strawberry Rune brunch concert, 10 a.m.
Descriptions:
Monday
Lauren Sheehan ’81: Back by popular demand, Lauren and her musician friends will provide multiple opportunities to enjoy her Appalachian folk, blues, and Celtic music.
Tuesday
Dr. Demento: Barry Hansen ’63 will use his encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and its history to entertain us with a musically illustrated overview of the kinds of music Reedies and Reedites have listened to while students.
Camp Reed: Bring your voice, your guitar, or any other complementary instrument and join in a community sing along.
Wednesday
Rebecca Parks ’85: Rebecca’s graceful piano and warm vocal harmonies, accompanied by her husband Gary, convey original stories in a theatrical folk-rock style.
Camp Reed: Bring your voice, your guitar, or any other complementary instrument and join in a community sing along.
Thursday
Phil ’58 and Vivian Tomlinson Williams ’59: These Reedies are true icons in Pacific Northwest folk music. In addition to being wonderful musicians, they are also music historians who will delight you with vernacular music done in a most engaging style.
Gilbert & Sullivan: A Reed Century: Enjoy this hour long run through Reed’s history with the music of
Gilbert & Sullivan cleverly merged with lyrics by Jim Kahan ’64. A chorus of Reed alumni will lend their voices.
Respectable Citizen: Bruce Bennett ’90 on keyboards, Peter Bill ’92 on video, Byron Diel ’91, and Vance Galloway ’91 on guitar, comprise the group that is an electronic improv-core ensemble that simply eludes any classification beyond “eclectic.” Their sound has been described as everything from ambient, illbient, experimental electronic, drum-n-bass, dub electronic, down-tempo, lounge, raga-esque, space rock, prog rock, to noise.
Gypsy Brass: Known around town for his skill as a tango dancer and instructor (Tango Berretin is his studio), Alex Krebs ’98 also leads a talented dance band comprised of some of Portland’s finest musicians. Take a spin on the floor or just sit back and enjoy the music.
Friday
Russian Duo: Children and family Russian folk-dance workshop featuring Terry Boyarsky ’70 and Oleg Kruglyakov.
Richard Conviser ’65: Richard (violin) and Janice Button Shafer (piano) will perform works by Mozart, Bach, Schumann, and Richard in this chapel concert.
Jon Appleton ’61: Fifty years ago, Jon composed as special score to honor Reed’s 50th birthday. Since then, he has enjoyed a successful career as a composer and professor of music at Dartmouth College. Jon will perform more of his compositions on solo piano and share some special videos highlighting his career.
HollowDog: Stuart Margolis ’93 and his friends perform a tasty take on good old
rock-n-roll. Those who like to kick back and listen or those who get the urge to dance will enjoy this Portland-area band.
EggDog/Love Butt: Portland rocker Jody Bleyle ’92 has combined a number of Reedie groups to celebrate the occasion and jam together.
Atomic Swerve: Brett Rogers ’99 and his buddies reunite to perform tunes that resonate with those mid-1990s alumni.
“Stop Making Sense” video-dance party: What goes around comes around again. It does make sense that David Byrne and the Talking Heads are big with the current students and the most recent grads. Converge on the SU and partake in this beloved video-dance party.
Saturday
Stumptown Family Ramblers: Along with friends, including Gregory MacNaughton ’89, the multi-talented Sarah Dougher ’90 will transport you to the days of an olde-time revival tent. The music, their costumes, and their repartee are a true treat.
Lauren Sheehan ’81 & Friends: Lauren and her playing partners will switch genres once again and spice things up with upbeat blues music, perfect for a outdoor venue on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Sweet Baboo: Whether you want to chat with friends and occasionally turn your ear to hear part of a tune or a sweet guitar lick, or your want to sit close and take the whole thing in, you will enjoy Scott Foster ’77 and his friends performing their takes on these popular standards.
Kyle Alden ’80 and Friends: San-Francisco musician Kyle Alden (Thayer) ’80 joins forces with some of his Bay-Area playing partners to provide a musical treat. These guys performed in the chapel last year and had a sound
that demands a bigger venue.
Davis Rogan ’90 and his New Orleans All Star Rhythm & Blues Revue: Davis and his buddies shook the SU three years ago. Now the inspiration for a character on Treme, he returns to the scene of the crime (as it were). Come join in and rock the house!
Face Ditch: Henry Franzoni ’78, Neil Minturn ’78, and a friend reunite as a trio to perform their jazzy tunes.
Tikkler: A Reed band from the late 1980s, with Miller Duvall ’90 and friends, is together again! You’ll be tickled to see them back together and rockin’ out.
Russian Duo: From Russian roots to classical favorites, from vocals to ragtime, the Russian Duo is a magical collaboration between virtuoso balalaika and concert piano, creating a vibrant, cross-cultural musical experience. Terry Boyarsky ’70 and Oleg Kruglyakov will share their love of classical and folk Russian music in this full concert.
Sunday
Strawberry Rune: Lauren Sheehan ’81 will be joined by Liz Nicholson ’98 on harp to perform a brunch concert as Strawberry Rune. What a great way to conclude a melodious week.
Fuller descriptions of each musician, including links, can be browsed on the entertainment webpage. See more details and the full schedule, then register today!
