Music and Piano Lessons in Southern Oregon
About Pat
Pat grew up in the culturally rich environment of Washington, DC. His mom was a music teacher in the public schools and music filled his home as a boy. He began piano lessons at age 6 and expanded his musical horizons by attending many wonderful concerts available in the area. In his youth, Pat heard Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and many other musical giants. Pat was an especially talented pianist and studied with Silvio Scionti, at Dunbarton College. He also played trombone in various school ensembles and appeared on stage as an actor for school music and drama productions.
When it was time for college it was a toss-up between astronomy and music for a major. At age 19, music and piano performance ultimately won him over. At the University of Maryland, Pat studied with Thomas Schumacher, worked at the international piano festival and competition there, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1976. He spent that summer touring Europe and then returned home to teach piano lessons in the Washington, DC area.
Feeling a need to further his education, he moved to Wichita KS in 1977 (he had some relatives there) to practice, study and to get a Master's degree. In Kansas, Pat met Robert Roux, a well-known pianist and teacher at Wichita State University and earned a Master's degree in performance at W.S.U. in the summer of 1980. While in graduate school, Pat was a pianist, teacher, and accompanist. He also began hosting classical music programs for the public radio station in Wichita.
After earning a Master's Degree, Pat decided to look for work. In the fall of 1980, KMUW-FM opened a position for Music Director to produce and host fine arts broadcasts for the station. This, as it turned out, suited Pat to a "T." He joined the communication faculty at W.S.U. and began presenting classical music to thousands of people on the radio in central Kansas.
Pat met Margie in the control room of KMUW in the summer of 1982. Margie had come to the school for a Master's degree in conducting. A long (and wonderful) story goes here but after marriage in 1983 and the birth of their first son in 1986 it was time to look for more room for the family. That's when Pat noticed a job open in Ashland, OR at KSOR (now Jefferson Public Radio) for a Music Director.
After a national search, Pat was chosen to join the communication faculty at Southern Oregon University in August of 1986. While at JPR, Pat hosted "First Concert," produced local and regional concerts for broadcast, and saw the station expand into a network of fine arts radio stations. In addition to being on the radio and teaching, Pat gave public piano recitals in Ashland, Redding, and Coos Bay. He continues to be a worship leader at the piano and has directed several church choirs.
After 10 years at JPR, Pat moved to KDOV-FM in 1996 where he was known for his interesting on-air personalities. He began producing "Classical Praise". He also hosted various contemporary Christian music programs and produced "The Daly Connection," an interview program devoted especially to topics of history, culture and apologetics.
Early in 2006, Pat felt God's leading to return to music and teaching as his vocation. Since becoming a full-time private piano instructor, Pat has also taught music history at SOU, been the pre-concert lecturer for the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra and has accompanied individual music students and public school and regional chorus. He is a member of OMTA (Oregon Music Teacher's Association) a group of professional music teachers providing a graded syllabus of piano music and performance opportunities. With over 50 years of experience as a musician, producer and presenter of classical and jazz music, teacher and performer, Pat brings a formidable background to his private lessons.