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Connie Lorimor is a string player produced right out of the public school system. She started in the fifth grade in the West Linn School District. Although that first year of violin was not her bag, the cello was soon to be her instrument of choice. After moving to the east side of Portland for her high school years, she settled into another fine string program in the Reynolds School District. Many great public school teachers contributed to her playing, including her high school teacher, and recently retired Mt. Hood Pops conductor, Mr. Ben Brooks.

Earning a full scholarship at Mt. Hood Community College led Connie to a Bachelors of Music and later a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Oregon State University. Initially unable to find string jobs in Oregon, she spent her first three years teaching orchestra for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to teaching, opportunities arose for community playing in the Henderson Civic Symphony and coaching low strings for the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra.

In Fall 2010, Connie will be starting her eleventh year of teaching orchestra in the North Clackamas School District. Her enrollment has increased every year, and is up to a staggering 250 seventh and eighth graders split between two schools. She also manages to find time to teach cello privately.

“I can't imagine what my life would be like without strings,” states Mrs. Lorimor, who can't wait to share that gift with every student.

Updated May 2010