Paul Bellam was Conductor and Music Director of the Portland Chamber Orchestra from 1970 to 1992, a 22-year span giving him the record of being Conductor for a longer time with a single Orchestra than perhaps any other Conductor in the States. During his service, he performed over 80 concerts, many of them innovative. In balance with the classical composers, the music of modern and rarely heard composers was included. For example, in the 27th concert series of the Portland Chamber Orchestra of 1973, he conducted his own composition dedicated to his wife Beth. In the same concert, he included a composition by composer Lee Reinoehl, a courageous first performance of "The Audubon Wildlife Theatre". Also included was Tibor Serly's "Transylvanian Rhapsody".
Paul Bellam was most "at home" when engrossed in music, as evident in the picture of him as violinist with the Lewis and Clark Faculty Quartet (photo from Martha Montague's centennial book of Lewis and Clark College.) He was equally adept at playing violin and viola, and was a disciplined perfectionist. Following retirement from Portland Chamber Orchestra to Lacey, Washington, he continued an active career teaching students in violin, viola, and voice.
Written by Dr. Siegfried
Berthelsdorf and Mildred Berthelsdorf
in the Newsletter of the Portland Chamber Orchestra Association, Issue 3,
Spring 2004.
