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Curtain Call: Jerron Jorgensen takes over choral chair at SOU By Jim Flint Updated: Nov 25, 2022 11:46 AM A A Jerron Jorgensen conducts the world premiere of Evan Mack's "The Cure at Troy," in May at Carnegie Hall. He is the new director of choral and vocal studies at Southern Oregon University. Submitted photo For middle schooler Jerron Jorgensen, making music was recreation, not a serious endeavor. That is, until his choir director encouraged him to audition for the South Dakota Junior Honor Choir. “Although I was pretty active in music, choir and band were activities I did for fun,” he said. Much to his surprise, his audition was successful. “I got in. And it was an experience that opened my eyes to taking music making more seriously.” Today, Jorgensen, 35, is director of choral/vocal studies at Southern Oregon University, filling the chair vacated by long-time faculty member Paul French. Jorgensen also serves as music director of the Rogue Valley Chorale. Spending those few days with other middle school students from across the state who were so dedicated to singing made a big impression on him. So did the clinician, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, who now teaches at Temple University. “Dr. Dilworth was so engaging and enthusiastic. So much so, that I left the weekend inspired to go back to my own school and give music much more effort and attention,” Jorgensen said. In high school, he was active in every facet of the arts — an active member of the Thespians dramatic club; playing trombone in concert band, pep band, marching band and jazz band; and singing in jazz choir, men’s choir and concert choir. “I also participated in community theater and professional summer stock theater companies during the summers,” he said. “I took trombone and voice lessons from professors at the local colleges, participated in all-state and regional honor choirs, and even performed in opera workshop productions at the college.” That young man was hooked on music. Although his parents encouraged his pursuit of the arts and music — or whatever inspired him — they were not creatives themselves. Both worked at South Dakota State University in Brookings where Jorgensen eventually earned his BA in music. “I was practically raised on a college campus as a result,” he said. His mom was a police officer early on and later worked as an administrative assistant in SDSU’s geography department. His dad was the dean of the SDSU College of Arts & Sciences and a colonel in the Army Reserve. Jorgensen went on to earn a Master of Music in vocal performance from Arizona State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in voice performance from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut. His first job after grad school was as choir and voice teacher at a small liberal arts college in South Carolina. “Academia is very competitive these days, and I felt very fortunate to be hired straight out of my doctorate,” he said. He believes his regular work as a conductor and singer throughout college helped seal the deal. Learning to conduct came out of initially envisioning himself teaching K-12 in South Dakota in either band or choir. Even though he later shifted his focus to concentrate on voice, he believes the early course work served him well in his career. An early influence was Steve Grives, still a mentor and dear friend. Jorgensen found himself emulating Grives’ clear and precise conducting technique in his early days. “Even more, he challenged me in and out of the classroom as a musician and conductor with just the right balance of support and tough love.” Early on, Jorgensen’s challenges were primarily figuring out who he was and what he wanted to say as a musician and conductor. As he has become more secure in his technique and philosophies, his new challenge is to continue to remind himself to stay flexible and never stop growing. “I am still a student to both life and my craft,” he said. “My students and our audiences deserve a conductor who is avoidant of getting stuck in his ways. They deserve a conductor who continually seeks to improve his methods and programmatic choices.” All that comes naturally with the territory, of course, when the creative process has to include from 40 to 120 other human beings. “Their personalities and identities play a role in our creative process,” he said. He and his wife, Christi McLain, worked together before coming to Ashland. After five years at the small liberal arts school, they were ready for a new challenge, “in a new town and with a more storied institution,” he said. They were impressed with the arts and culture scene in the Rogue Valley and, as parents, with the strength of the school districts. “We really fell in love with the town of Ashland,” he said, “and after multiple job offers, SOU and Ashland were clear winners for us.” Jorgensen teaches choir, music history, and applied voice lessons at SOU. He conducts the SOU Chamber Choir and will direct the SOU Concert Choir next year when it will be reactivated after a long Covid-19 recess. He relishes the Rogue Valley Chorale conductor’s job as well, with a roster of 150 singers, celebrating its 50th season this year. He also is working toward bringing a Lyric Theatre ensemble back to SOU’s music program, which will provide students a chance to perform full roles in one-act contemporary American operas every year. His favorite genre? “I am such a fan of contemporary American classical music.” Favorite conducting moments? “When I get to work with a large chorus with an orchestral ensemble.” Is there a specific work he would like to tackle? “A bucket list work for me has long been to conduct Brahms’ ‘Ein Deutsches Requiem,’ which I will have the honor of conducting with the Rogue Valley Chorale in the spring of 2023,” he said. “It’s a work that I’ve visited over and over in various capacities. Every encounter has changed me for the better. This will be my first time conducting it in its entirety with an orchestra.” He is gratified to be conducting and performing for live audiences again. “Covid has taught me that performing with an audience is an experience that cannot be recreated or supplanted,” he said. He regards the dialogue of energy between audiences and performers as special. “It is my hope that audiences continue to seek those rare moments as we move deeper into a digitally-connected world, which honestly feels less ‘connected’ to me with every passing year.” He was recently introduced to the term, “mirrors and windows.” “It perfectly summarizes my philosophy on the purpose of music,” he said. “Music, and art in general, has the ability to exist with an incredible duality in society. It can act as a mirror for some, reflecting and affirming their lived and shared experiences. And as a window for some, allowing us brief but critically important encounters with the culture and beliefs of others.” Entrenched in music and the arts in so many ways, Jorgensen still finds time for other pursuits. He likes to snowboard, considers himself to be fairly handy with DIY projects, and is a big fan of the San Francisco 49ers. The soundtrack of Jerron Jorgensen’s life is eclectic indeed. Reach freelance writer Jim Flint at [email protected].