EOU MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORM TO NATIONAL AUDIENCE ON “A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION”

"A Prairie Home Companion" June 14 performance

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

(From left) Isaac Callender, Emily Muller Callender, Jesse Jones and Luke McKern performed for millions of listeners via the NPR program “A Prairie Home Companion” Saturday in Bend.

While some of their peers were graduating Saturday, four Eastern Oregon University music majors were performing live to a million-plus audience on National Public Radio’s “A Prairie Home Companion” in Bend.

Seniors Emily Muller Callender (Pendleton), Isaac Callender (Pendleton), and Luke McKern (Mt. Vernon) and junior Jesse Jones (Union) form the bluegrass/swing group Blue Pass. Emily and Isaac passed up walking in Saturday’s Commencement Ceremonies for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the nationally-renown NPR radio show.

“(EOU) President Phil Creighton gave them their diplomas the night before at the choir concert,” said Jones. “We left after that and didn’t get into Bend until 4:30 a.m. We slept until 8 a.m. and then had a sound check.”

Jones said a woman approached the band after they performed in Hood River a few weeks ago and told them to send a CD to “A Prairie Home Companion.” They did and two weeks ago they received a call to play on the show when it came to Bend. The EOU band shared the stage with world-premiere harmonica player Howard Levy, singer Jearlyn Steele, the Booher Family and Steve Einhorn and Kate Power

“A Prairie Home Companion” is based in Minnesota through Minnesota Public Radio and is hosted by Garrison Keillor, who has been with the program since 1969. Nearly four million people throughout the United States listen to the weekly program on 511 public radio stations and it is also carried abroad on America One, the Armed Forces Network in Europe and the Far East.

“We were pretty excited,” said Jones. “It’s just about the biggest program acoustical people can go on. Their average audience is 8.5 million.”

Blue Pass performed two songs written by Jones – “Outlaw’s Lament” and “Heart Made of Stone” -- between 3 and 5 p.m. during the show in front of 7,000 people at the Les Schwab Amphitheatre. Both songs were from the CD “Here Comes the Rain,” which Jones and Isaac Callender released last fall. In addition, the Blue Pass played the song “Wheelhouse” with the Shoe Band during the closing credits.

“It was neat to meet all of those profesional musicians,” said Jones. “Everyone on the show was so nice and they made us feel so comfortable that we weren’t nervous. Garrison Keillor is a really nice and smart guy.”

Saturday’s show can be listened to via the “A Prairie Home Companion” weblink at http://www.prairiehomecompanion.com/performances/20030614/index.shtml

 

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement