Our choral program is made up of dedicated singers from a broad variety of majors and backgrounds, who take time out of their busy schedules for the love of making music. As we wrap up this year, we wanted to feature two final non-music majors in our program!
Ana Bane
While some of our singers travel great distances to make it to class on time, Ana Bane’s commute to choir rehearsal this year took all but thirty seconds – for just around the corner from Cramer 453 sits the Pacific Coast Branch of the Pacific Historical Review, an academic journal that focuses on the history of the Pacific World.
Since 1932, and operating out of Portland State University since 1996, this journal publishes original research articles and a number of book reviews in each issue. But before publication, the submitted media must go through rounds of revision – How are the authors conveying their information? Are they supporting this with evidence in the most compelling, logical way? Does it make sense to readers? And how can we strengthen the structure of their argument? Such thorough revisions require a sharp team of editorial fellows – and this is where Ana comes in!
Ana specializes in the intersection of Urban/Environmental History, and Social/Public History, and is graduating this term with a Major in History, and a Minor in Art History. They are currently working as the journal’s book reviews fellow – the undergraduate student in charge of finding books that are good candidates for review. They routinely look at university presses to see what books are about to be published and then find reviewers for those books – typically historians and professors, nationally & internationally based. Before this role, they were editor-in-chief of the PSU Honors College academic journal, Anthos.
They remark that this work has really strengthened their editorial voice, improved their writing, and made them very interested in working in editing or publishing. Literary magazines, library sciences, museum work, and educational/outreach work all appeal to Ana, and they plan to explore many different fields before they choose what to pursue in graduate school. “Whatever I do, I want to work a job that engages the community and the broader public. I’m interested in making information and resources about history and art available and accessible.”
Ana sings in Portland State’s Chamber Choir and has a great deal of musical experience under their belt; Their mother, a Jewish Cantor, is responsible for a great deal of the musicality they and their brother were exposed to growing up. And on top of the countless choirs and musicals that they participated in, Ana worked as a vocalist and song leader at their synagogue, teaching students from preschool to seventh grade. They play piano and guitar, love to jam with friends, and admit that they tend to gravitate toward other musical people. After graduation, they will continue to sing every day and would love to join a community choir. “Choir helps me return to myself. I always look forward to coming to class and seeing my friends, and having that escape where I can let go of my responsibilities for an hour and a half and just be fully present in the moment.”
Michael Koach
“When I perform with a group, I am making a meaningful contribution to something that is beyond anything that I could ever accomplish alone”
When he was in middle school, Michael Koach admits that he was a shy, quiet kid – and music helped him come out of his shell. He joined his school’s band program on a whim, and within his first few rehearsals on the clarinet, he knew the environment was good for him. But it was the band’s performance of Brian Balmages’ “Colliding Visions”, with its powerful fanfares and spirited melodies, that really opened his eyes to a future in music. He continued band through his high school years, and into his time at Portland State. He now plays saxophone, bass clarinet, and other low woodwinds in the Portland State Wind Symphony, soon to be under the baton of the newly-hired Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education, Professor Ed Protzman.
Joining a choir felt like a natural next step for Michael, who had always been curious about the art form. He joined the University Choir in 2021 hoping to improve his ear training but chose to stay with the ensemble after enjoying the experience. He remarks that “it’s a really nice de-stressing opportunity”, as well as a refreshing break from the nonstop responsibilities of his degree path. This last school year he sang with the Rose Choir as well as the Wind Symphony, and was able to comfortably balance the time commitments of both. When asked which ensemble he preferred, Michael chose not to pick a side. He loves both equally, but did joke that “choir kids have more fun.”
Michael studies Business Administration, with a focus on Marketing and Advertising. And though his journey has led him away from his previous plans of pursuing a degree in music, Michael assures us that his musical work is far from over. He likes how his business degrees are able to be applied to many different fields, and how the practical skills he learns there will help him be more successful in life overall. “I’d rather be a pretty good musician who knows how to run a business and market myself, than an extremely good musician who doesn’t,” says Michael. He knows he always wants to incorporate music into his life and currently shows interest in the “behind the scenes” side of the music industry, such as concert promotion.
In his free time, Michael stays busy. He is the audio engineer and editor for “Talk Business with Me”, an interview–based podcast run by PSU peer ambassadors and other marketing majors. His compositions have been performed by PSU’s Big Band, and he continues to record and produce music as a solo artist, with a deep-house, EDM, and jazz-inspired feel. His latest single, Cyborg, was released on March 4th and is available on all major streaming platforms.
You can sing in whichever choir works for you while completing any of Portland State’s 200+ degree programs. Find out more about PSU Choirs by visiting the link below.