Our Legacy of Music

Music has been a long-standing tradition in the Doty family, and Northwest Christian University played a significant role in that musical heritage. As a third generation graduate, I follow my father and mother, Loren '77 and Denise (Goodwin) Doty '76, as well as my grandparents, Orris '49 and Norma Jean (Miller) Doty '50, in completing a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Christian College. Just like my dad and my grandpa, I had the privilege of serving on a traveling singing group and representing the University in churches throughout the Pacific Northwest and along the West Coast. Orris sang in three quartets from 1946-1949, Loren was part of Waylighters from 1973-1975, and I traveled with Pilgrimage from 1997-1999.

As noted in Grandpa’s memoir and in talking with my dad, all three of us share the sentiment of being drawn to the opportunity to travel and sing, and it certainly didn’t hurt that all of us received some sort of tuition benefit. In addition, these musical groups influenced our paths in profound ways, opening doors for us to pursue God’s call. Grandpa initially began as a music major with the intention of becoming a music teacher. However, during his time at NCC, Grandpa received the call to ministry, went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree and faithfully served for 33 years in full-time pastoral roles and 10 years in interim roles in over 14 churches. Grandpa went to be with the Lord on February 9, 2018. I’m confident that he was greeted with “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

For my dad, the travel and exposure to churches launched the process of being wooed into church ministry. The call to ministry was confirmed after being asked to serve in a youth ministry role when my parents returned from their honeymoon. Dad later went on to seminary, and he’s been serving as the pastor at Tualatin Hills Christian Church for over 36 years. I vividly remember a Pilgrimage group singing at our home church when I was in the 5th grade. It was then that a spark ignited, and I set my sights on going to NCC and being part of a music group.

To kindle the flame, I prioritized music in preparation for college, continuing piano lessons, singing in elite choirs and performing in a musical. During my senior year of high school, I visited campus and ate lunch with John Hakes. Having a music faculty member take the time to answer all my questions, when I wasn’t even a music major, really made an impression on me. It only fueled the fire. Within my first year at NCC, I auditioned and was stunned when I made the group. The Doty family legacy continued. Those two years of traveling and singing were some of the most formative years for me as an individual. I grew so much in my faith, my relationships, my love for music, and my desire to serve in the church. Some of my fondest college memories are associated with Pilgrimage and include traveling in the blue van, forging meaningful friendships, exchanging inside jokes, swapping stories of home stays (both good and bad), being caught in a snowstorm and sharing in the power of worship through music. Promoting the University with Pilgrimage set the foundation for me to work as a student admissions counselor my senior year, which led to a full-time admissions counselor job after I graduated and essentially launched my career in Christian higher education.

Our Legacy of Music

This year marks my 20th year working in higher education (my 17th year with NCU!). Over the past 20 years, I have watched the University’s music program evolve and change. Group names have changed, from Pilgrimage to New Creation to Virtue to Grove Collective. Program directors have left their own indelible mark on the program, including Dr. John Hakes, Melissa Stock and Dr. Karen De Young. Fashions and hairstyles have most definitely improved. Even the technology of music has advanced. Yet, there are two things that still shine bright –– the impact the music program has on the lives of the students who participate and the blessing audiences receive from their gifts. May the legacy of music continue for many more generations to come.

Excerpt from Orris Doty’s memoir:

“One of the first things I did the fall of 1945 was to try out for the NCC Quartet. The quartets from the college had always been a highlight when they came to Tillamook. My music background, singing in the church choir, singing in the high school choir and dramas, helped me land the first tenor spot. I never thought it was possible to make it, especially with the others that were trying out, but evidently, my voice blended better with the others. It was a wonderful experience being on the quartet because of the travel and being in the churches of the Northwest. It was also helpful because it paid my tuition. Of course tuition in those days wasn't very much, $25 a term. I was on the quartet for three years. The second quartet, the one with Renzema, Kimsey, Johnson, was the one that forged very close ties. We kept getting together at various times to sing, and my senior year we did an Easter meeting in Caldwell, Idaho. Then after college, through the years we have gotten together. We did week-long meetings at Coquille, Kern Park, Hillsboro, as well as a week for the Oregon Christian Convention. For the meetings after college, we used a piano player, which helped us. We sang for the 75th and 100th anniversaries of Northwest Christian College.”

1947-48 NCC Quartet: (L-R): Orris Doty '49, Glenn Johnson '51, Jim Kimsey '50, Ray Renzema '50

1997-98 Pilgrimage: Back (L-R): Jesse Lough '00, Angela Doty '00, Justin Thomas '99, Tara (Lenee) Fischetti '00, Holly (Ivey) Blackman '99, Adam Janes '00. Front: Heather (Rosen) Ivey '99. 1974-75 Waylighters: Back (L-R): Dan Powell '76, Loren Doty '77, Gene Hill '75, Jim Sullivan, Gary Brower Front (L-R): Trudy (Bowman) Robinson, Debbie (Smith) Martin, Penny (Schiffman) Johnson, Kelly (Doyle) Smith '78

2012-13 Virtue: (L-R) Hans Coburn ‘16, Helen (Rogers) Blackshear ‘13, Sam Koekkoek ‘15, Samantha (Volta) Reiswig ‘16 and Jason Haggard ‘14