Kaitlyn Hall, Copy Editor
New Pacific Lutheran University Department of Music chair John Paul is composing his own story.
Paul is replacing Dave Robbins, who has taught at PLU since 1969 and chaired the department for more than 30 years.
âI knew about the departmentâI knew the previous chair, Dr. Robbins, through professional activities, so I had very high regard for the department,â Paul said. âThe more I studied it and looked at it, the more intrigued and excited I was.â
As a chair and instructor, Paul has much to share with students and faculty through his journey in music: he began composing in third grade, started working in administration at a video game company and has taught and worked as a music department chair for almost 15 years.
Paul began his composition career in third grade while learning to play violin. His teacher asked her students if they wanted to compose a tune for the violin, and he was quick to respond.
âWithin the first week, I came back with some songs that I had composed, and she wrote it down and printed it out for the whole class,â Paul said.
His third-grade class played the songs at their concert. Paul continued playing violin and composing throughout high school, and started his undergraduate studies at University of Texas at Austin as a violin performance major.
In his sophomore year, Paul realized he could major in music composition and switched majors. He said college is a great place for students to explore and find vocation.
âI like that idea, because itâs exactly what happened to me: I found my vocation in college,â Paul said.
He finished his bachelorâs degree at University of Texas at Austin and earned a masterâs degree and doctorate in composition at Indiana University.
Before Paul became a teacher and administrator, though, he composed music for video games.
âI was not necessarily a video game player, but I wanted to get experience writing music and do it full-time,â Paul said. âI always had the dream of teaching, but always thought itâd be great to get some practical experience before I [taught].â
Paul said he liked the idea of working as a full-time composer because he was paid for the things he loved to do. His last title was âGauntlet Legends,â released in 2000.
After moving to Portland in 2000, Paul began teaching at Marylhurst University in Oregon. Within a year, Paul became the chair of Marylhurstâs music department, and worked there until coming to PLU this fall.
He also served on the board of directors for the National Association of Schools of Music, the organization that accredits PLUâs music program.
Paul has continued to compose. Paulâs most recent composition project is scoring âCity Girl,â a 1930 silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. One of the last silent films, âCity Girlâ centers on a waitress from the city whoâs abused by her father-in-law after moving to her husbandâs familyâs farm.
âYou oftentimes think of silent films being antiquated, or dated, and you look at this beautiful imagery, beautiful acting and just this great, powerful story,â Paul said.
The original score for âCity Girlâ disappeared, and Paul was able to give it a new voice through a score targeted at a modern audience with elements of jazz and Bartok-like dissonance.
Paul is currently working on getting to know the department and its students and faculty, and hopes they can work together to support studentsâ needs.
Music department graduates are excelling in their positions, earning awards and singing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, N.Y., and PLUâs choirs have received international recognition and awards, Paul said.
âItâs amazing stuff happening, so letâs get the word out,â Paul said.
The potential of the music department is music to his ears.
