Pacific Index

Issue date: 4/29/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Hailey Hawkins The Music Hall of Fame, which hangs in Taylor Meade Auditorium.

If one were to walk into the Bump Lounge in the Taylor Meade music building, they might notice a large portion of wall taken up by picture frames containing black and white portraits and biographies. What they might not know is that they are looking at the Pacific University Music Hall of Fame.

A group of former Pacific students called Friends of Music founded the hall 14 years ago with their first inductee in 1996. The purpose was to recognize Pacific alumni in music who had significantly distinguished themselves after graduation.

"Friends of Music is made up of Pacific graduates, most of whom were music majors, who've banded together to support the present-day music program," said music professor Michael Burch-Pesses.

"The Friends of Music will often start fundraising drives to help us with our needs in the music program, publicize our performances and provide scholarship funds for music students in need," he added.

The hall now has a total of 17 inductees, the most recent being the late Lamar Bell, who passed in 2000. Bell was a middle school and high school band conductor for the Tigard district for a total of 41 years. During his time as conductor, he earned awards from his district and the Northwest Bandmasters Association for his teaching, as well as leading his students to earn ribbons and trophies throughout the state.

Another Hall of Fame inductee is Charles Trombley who was Dean of Students at Pacific for more than 30 years and who also helped found the Theater in the Grove on Pacific Ave. He performed in over 30 roles with the Seattle opera and is the namesake of that campus centerpiece, Trombley Square.

Louis Davis, another Hall of Fame member, was the father of Chip Davis who founded the Manheim Steamroller, a band famous for their Christmas music covers.

The hall also boasts members who have given considerable and long-lasting performances all over the country, as well as in locations such as Japan, North Africa, Germany.

The Friends of Music make it a goal to try to induct someone once or twice a year, conducting ceremonies at music concerts and awarding plaques to the honored recipients.

According to Burch-Pesses, the wife of the most recent inductee, Lamar Bell, was "thrilled to receive the plaque."

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