American Music Program

picture of Thara Memory
photograph by Dick Bogle

at Pacific Crest Community School
under the direction of THARA MEMORY

Director

THARA JOHN MEMORY

Thara John Memory, trumpeter, composer, conductor and educator, was born in 1948 in Tampa, Florida. There his early exposure to Cuban, African and European music formed his musical palette.

Thara began playing the trumpet professionally when he was 11 years old. Today audiences both young and old cherish his memorable performances. Thara moved to the Northwest in 1970. Since then, Portland has served as home base for his notable and widely recognized career as a jazz performer. The Willamette Week said, "In each jazz community, and Portland has a sizeable one, there are stars. Memory is one that shines brightest." Thara has performed with many jazz and rhythm and blues legends including Eddie Harris, Arturo Sandoval, Charlie Rouse, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Israel, Lou Rawls, Benny Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Natalie Cole, Fred Wesley and the Master Sounds, The Four Tops, Pleasure, The Leroy Vinegar Quartet, The Depriest Project, Ravi Best, Urban Agnas, Brian Lynch, Scotty Barnhart, Javon Jackson, John Handy, Dennis Springer, Bernard Purdy, Ben Wolfe, Obo Addy, George Shaw... and the list continues. Currently, he leads his own outstanding jazz band, the Thara Memory Superband, and performs regularly with the Mel Brown Septet.

Thara is sought after as a studio musician, arranger and composer. His first personal CD, Juke Music. is an original Southern blend of jazz, funk and world music. A long awaited second project, which promises an intermingling of jazz, soul, and classical elements, is currently in progress. Examples of his musical range and versatility can be found in his many guest performances on the CDs of other artists, for example the masterful Vexatious Progressions offering by the late Eddie Harris. His sound can be heard on recent releases by Stan Bock and Bernard Purdy and will soon be featured on the new CDs of Patricia Demarest and Dennis Springer.

Although best known for his contributions to the Northwest jazz scene, Thara is a respected classical conductor and composer. He earned his B.A. in conducting and composition from Marylhurst University. His conducting talents have been showcased as associate conductor of the Marylhurst Symphony, as guest conductor of the Portland Festival Symphony and as guest conductor of the Grande Ronde Youth Symphony. In 2001, Thara conducted the Marylhurst Symphony in the premier performance of his original composition, Middle Passage, which was reviewed and acclaimed by the Oregonian. He currently conducts the Pacific Crest Sinfonietta, which performs several concerts annually in NE Portland.

Thara has been awarded NEA, OAC and RACC grants for his involvement in community arts projects. He founded Portland's Accelerated Music Program, which promotes opportunities for talented minority and at-risk youth to achieve excellence in music. In 1999 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Arts Foundation for his community service in music.

Thara holds a well-deserved reputation for excellence as a music educator. He has taught at Portland State University, Marylhurst University, Mt. Hood Community College, and Portland Community College. Currently, he serves as director of the jazz orchestra program for Portland's Metropolitan Youth Symphony under music director Lajos Balogh. Thara has been recognized by the Beaverton City Council and the Beaverton Arts Commission as Music Educator of the Year. Thara is always in demand as a clinician for school music programs and festivals, and as an adjudicator for music education program competitions. Each summer he teaches on the faculty of the nationally recognized Western Oregon University Mel Brown Summer Jazz Workshop.

Thara John Memory is a consummate performer whose repertoire spans both classical and contemporary music. He eschews categorization of music saying, "The principles of music are the same for Bach as they are for Ellington. Everyone, young and old, should have complete access to music making. "

Director

Related Links About Thara Memory