Willamette Grad Named to U.S. Senate

Willamette University has been given an early Christmas present. Lisa Murkowski, a 1985 Willamette College of Law graduate, was appointed to the U.S. Senate Dec. 20. She was appointed to the Senate by her father, Sen. Frank Murkowski of Alaska, who left the Senate after 22 years to be sworn in as governor earlier this month.

Lisa Murkowski, 45, was a Republican state representative who was re-elected last month to a third term. The elder Murkowski said it was time for the next generation of Alaskans to start building seniority in Congress.

Lisa is the third Willamette graduate to serve in the U.S. Senate. She now joins Sens. Mark Hatfield and Bob Packwood.

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MLK Celebration Set For Willamette University

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Distinguished Artist In Concert at Willamette

Hector Olivera, considered by music critics around the world as one of the true virtuoso organists of his time, will perform in concert Thursday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 pm in Hudson Hall at Willamette University. The reception in the foyer begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and Willamette faculty and staff, and $3 for University students. For ticket information, please call 503) 370-6255.

Olivera will perform works by Bach, Handel, Stravinsky, Gershwin, Puccini and Mascagni.

A Time reporter describes an Olivera performance as: “An event, a happening, a joyful celebration of the sheer power and pressure that a true virtuoso like Hector Olivera can unleash in a concert hall.”

This remarkable musician was a church organist in his native Argentina at age 5, entered the Buenos Aires Conservatory at age 6, and the University of Buenos Aires at age 12, and then received a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music in New York. He had performed more than 300 concerts by age 18.

He has performed in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, London’s Albert Hall, and for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. His performance at Carnegie Hall attracted the largest audience ever to attend an organ concert, and ended with a two minute standing ovation.

Olivera has been featured on countless national radio and television productions, and has numerous recordings to his credit.

The Washington Post stated, “Olivera entertained his audience with a dazzling display of sonic and technical marvels. Olivera is an engaging performer who clearly has found his niche and fills it splendidly”

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