ALUMNI UPDATE: GEORGE REINMILLER

Posted on October 20, 2020

SINGING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
By George Reinmiller (PJS 1952-1959)

I am doing well, especially under the circumstances with this darn virus and the smoke we have experienced recently from wildfires. Now that the air has cleared, however, I can’t complain. My little office building is in the heart of downtown Portland, and I own a condominium kitty corner across the street. As a consequence, I can do a workout in the morning in the condo’s fitness center, and then put on my mask and head to join my wonderful staff and attorney tenants at my office, where we socially distance and stay healthy. At the end of the day I can do another light workout at the condo fitness center before dinner, and then relax for the evening.

I haven’t been playing my trombone much, but have enjoyed working with a very fine church choir, where during this COVID-19 pandemic we collaborate on a platform called “Soundtrap” to produce our digital performances. First the organist or pianist lays their track down, then the section leaders follow, and finally everyone else polishes and eventually creates a finished track, which is then mixed and blended together into a final product. That work product is then used for our digital church service. This amazing procedure is very much like what PYP is doing with performances this year - and I salute David Hattner and the whole crew at PYP for adapting to the situation and finding a way to keep making music. The bottom line is: “Even this pandemic will pass”. I look forward to eventually seeing all of you at the Schnitzer for an exciting live performance of the Portland Youth Philharmonic.