ALUMNI UPDATE: CARL SCHNOOR

Posted on October 21, 2020

SHARING MUSIC AROUND THE WORLD
By Carl Schnoor (Prep 1947, PJS 1948-1957)

My musician training began with viola lessons from James Eoff when I was in the 5th grade. I was accepted into Prep Orchestra in 7th grade, and then into PJS in 8th grade. Playing under Mr. Gershkovitch was both rewarding and intimidating. My technique grew so tense that I dropped out of the PJS for one concert, but I came back, stayed through high school and two years at Lewis & Clark College, and also played in the college orchestra under Boris Sirpo.

After graduating in Geography with a minor in Geology from San Diego State U, I took a teaching position in New Zealand for a year. Then I went to Australia where I ended up teaching a Special Ed class and discovered the thriving folk-singing scene in Perth. From there I went by tramp steamer to Singapore and thus began several years of leisurely travel (mostly hitch-hiking) throughout Asia, stopping in Bangkok to teach Social Studies at the American School. While there, I spent many evenings playing in a string quartet in the home of the German ambassador, and I joined the Bangkok Symphony. Continuing westward, I ended up meeting many of my father’s family in Germany.

After nearly 7 years abroad, I returned to Portland, completed a degree in Music Ed at PSU and started playing in the Oregon Sinfonietta under the direction of Dr. Don Appert. I taught classroom music in Portland schools for 22 years, took early retirement and subbed - almost entirely in music - for another 22 years. Finally, at 80, I let my certificate expire. Recently I started playing mandola in the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra, but COVID-19 has halted that. I miss playing music with groups, but am still handy building things and absolutely love watching my grandkids discovering themselves and the world.