The Olympian

Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: News

A grand piano was recently donated to Olympic College's award winning, premier vocal jazz ensemble, Jazzline.
Ira Langlois, owner of Langlois Piano and Langlois and Sons Pianos, chose OC Jazzline to be the recipient of the grand piano. He said that the donation actually came from a private party. Langlois sold the piano 16 years ago to a doctor who recently made the decision to downsize his practice. The doctor brought the piano back and asked Langlois to find a good home for it.
For the past two years, Langlois said he has been attending the jazz festivals and bringing his pianos to the events for advertising exposure.
"It's a win-win situation where you can focus on music," said Langlois. "I kind of got bitten by jazz."
Langlois said he worked with OC Jazzline Director Teresa Fraser during the jazz festivals and established a good relationship with her. It was this relationship that made him think of the OC Jazzline as the best recipient for the grand piano.
"They just asked me to find a home for it and I chose you guys (OC)," said Langlois. "I thought you deserved it. I mean I wish I could say it was all me but it wasn't."
Fraser describes Langlois as a great supporter of the OC music program.
Fraser said Jazzline has won many awards throughout the years including Reno Jazz Fest, Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest and UNC/Greeley Jazz Fest. She said that Jazzline places in the top three wherever they go. Last month, Jazzline took first place in the Open-Mic Group Division at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. James Sherrell, second year OC student, took first place in the Tenor Division and Michael Carpenter, first-year OC student, took first place in the Bass Division.
Students interested in being in the Jazzline must go through an audition process. Fraser said auditions are held each spring for the upcoming school year and it requires a full-year commitment. She said that the students selected for Jazzline must enroll in Chamber Choir and voice lessons.
Fraser said the piano would be housed at their current performance location for jazz concerts, The Roxy Theater. The Jazzline performed in the Winter Quarter Jazz concert last Friday at The Roxy. Included in the event were the jazz band and select soloists from the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The concert began at 7:30 p.m. and was free to all.
Joey Walbaum is the pianist for Jazzline. He is a 26-year-old, self-taught pianist and has been playing the piano since the third grade. Friday's event was his first time playing on the donated piano.
"It has a very warm tone," said Walbaum, "but as with all new pianos, the longer you play them, the brighter they become. I think it will be an amazing piano in time."
"We are incredibly grateful to have Langlois Piano so interested and supportive of music at Olympic College," said Fraser. "We are blessed to have those people in the community that really care about the quality of music in our schools. Thanks also goes to the Roxy, for letting us keep the piano there for use at our quarter concerts."

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