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alumni
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Fine Arts
Dr. Wojnar celebrates 30 years in Department of Music Many Jamestown College ceremonies are enhanced by organ or piano music, and, in most of those instances over the past 30 years, the man at the keyboard has been Dr. William Wojnar, music department chairman. Dr. Wojnar’s 30 years at Jamestown College will be celebrated at an Anniversary Concert at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Voorhees Chapel. “It will be an occasion for thanksgiving,” Dr. Wojnar says. Dr. William Wojnar at the BlackSchlossman Memorial Pipe Organ in Voorhees Chapel
“Dr. Wojnar is a much beloved colleague and teacher who has served as the pillar of the music department for thirty years. Bill has always shared his talent and knowledge willingly and selflessly with the wider community as well as the Jamestown College campus. All of us at Jamestown College have been blessed by his past service and know how much richer we are for his continuing presence.”
Dr. Gary Watts
Vice President for Academic Affairs
The concert will include choir anthems sung by Dr. Wonjar’s colleagues and friends, piano solos and duets, and, of course, organ selections performed on the Black-Schlossman Memorial Pipe Organ. As College organist, Dr. Wojnar played at the inaugurations of three presidents as well as at the memorial service for Dr. John Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He has played for Christmas concerts, Chapel services, Baccalaureate, and the dedication of new buildings, beginning with the Larson Center. Dr. Wojnar came to Jamestown College in 1979 from Ashland, Ore., where he served on the faculty of Southern Oregon State University. He is a graduate of Carroll College, the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign and the University of Iowa. “My first two years here, I lived on campus where the Reiland (Fine Arts Center) parking lot is now,” he says. Besides his teaching schedule, and lessons with organ and piano students, Dr. Wojnar has been involved in Jamestown music community endeavors such as the Civic Music Association. He was the choir director for several years at Trinity Lutheran Church, and he now sings in the choir at First Presbyterian Church. “I’ve always been fortunate to have Jamestown College alumni as music colleagues in the community,” he says. Dr. Wojnar says highlights over the past 30 years include the 1999 dedication of the Black-Schlossman Memorial Pipe Organ in Voorhees Chapel and the 2001 dedication of the Reiland Fine Arts Center. The projects provided the opportunity to meet donors like Anna Jane Schlossman and Rose Mary Reiland. “Our donors do what they do not for personal gain,” he says. “They know, as we know, what an exceptional place this is. We’re here because of their support.”