By Tiana Marrone-Creech

Shirley Andress Tendick started her musical career early, singing and acting in productions at Pleasant Hill High School. She credits Lane Community College with being the stepping stone she needed to start her long and successful career as a singer, actress, and teacher.

At Lane she did it all, she sang with the vocal jazz ensemble, acted in three main stage theatre productions, took dance classes, and learned how to audition. She says, "I definitely got my start at LCC. It was a very nurturing environment and the connections I made there led to my first paying gig." Shirley felt valued and encouraged by instructors and appreciates the impact on her career and life that the Lane Performing Arts Program has had.

Shirley transferred from Lane to the University of Oregon where she received her degree in Music Education. She has been a principle with the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts for 17 years and is a founding member and lead singer of The Emerald City Jazz Kings. For the past 6 seasons has assumed the role of artistic director for The Shedd's Christmas show and the Oregon Festival of American Music's Summer Musical. She manages her own private studio teaching voice. In addition, Shirley has worked closely through the years with the Performing Arts department at Lane. She enjoys her role as a mentor to students and has also assisted with many performance-based projects. She says, "I enjoy doing this, I like to give students the same things that were given to me; constructive criticism and encouragement."

Shirley is not the only member of her family who is a Lane alum. For Shirley and her family being a Lane alum is a multi-generational endeavor--Her mother received a nursing degree from Lane, one of Shirley's daughters graduated from the Dental Assisting Program, two other daughters went to Lane before transferring to the University of Oregon, and her son is a graduate of Lane's culinary program. She encouraged all of her children to start at Lane because of her connection to the college and knowledge of the affordability and quality of the education they would receive. For this talented and deeply rooted community treasure, Lane was a starting point in kicking off an amazing journey that continues to touch and delight her fellow community members throughout the years.

Shirley was named one of Lane's Distinguished Alumni for its 50th Anniversary year in 2014, representing the 1990s.

Learn more about music, dance and theater arts at Lane at https://www.lanecc.edu/perarts