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Alumnus' original composition performed during chapel

By Trent Chaffee '09
April 27, 2007

Allen Borton '79 was an accomplished musician before a severe accident in 1993 left him comatose for two months and ultimately unable to communicate vocally. His hearing, however, was undamaged. Although aside from a few student works he had done no composition previous to his accident, Borton quickly realized that composing was the best way for him to stay connected to music. So since 1994 he has worked at teaching himself how to compose.

On Friday, April 20, with the St. Olaf Alumni Board in attendance, the second movement of one of Borton's compositions, "Sonata for Viola and Piano op. 536," was performed during daily chapel service. Bridget Callahan '07, a music and American studies double major from Portland, Ore., performed the piece on the viola.

Borton composed the piece for Callahan after hearing the St. Olaf Orchestra in Ann Arbor, Mich., on their fall tour last year.

Callahan, a four-year member of the St. Olaf Orchestra, was surprised and honored to receive the piece in the mail about a month after the tour. She describes the piece as beautiful and meditative. "I hopefully will be able to perform it again sometime in my life," she says.

St. Olaf Alumni Board Member Katherine Barnett '79 was in attendance during chapel and was moved by Borton's story and music. "It was exquisite," she says. "Allen is an Ole doing incredible things for the next generation."

While at St. Olaf Borton sang in the St. Olaf Choir for three years, served as the ensemble's accompanist and was bass section leader during his senior year. He earned a Master of Music degree in choral music at the University of Michigan and then worked for three years as Director of Music Ministries at Faith Presbyterian Church in Minnetonka. In 1988 he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University. Borton taught on the faculty of Olivet College in Southern Michigan where he also served as director of the music program until 1993.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.