Miller retires—but continues to teach
Ann Miller began playing piano when she was only 22 months old. She gave her first recital at the age of 3.
"I can’t remember a time when I didn’t play piano," she says.
So when Miller, professor emerita of music, was feeling a little uneasy about retiring in May, her son knew just what to say to reassure her.
"Mom, musicians never retire. They just get to pick and choose their work," says Jeffrey Miller ’82, principal flutist with the Ottawa Symphony.
Ann Miller came to the College in 1979 as an associate professor. During her 22 years at Lewis & Clark, she taught piano, orchestration, theory and composition, and she coordinated the piano program.
"I loved teaching in a liberal arts environment, and I’ll miss working with college-age students," says Miller. "Some of my best students were not music majors or music minors. They took piano lessons because they wanted to, and they studied with me all four years. Many students still keep in touch."
Miller earned a bachelor of music degree with a major in piano and a minor in baritone horn, theory, composition and history from Drake University. She also earned a master of music degree with a major in piano and a minor in composition from Drake.
She began her teaching career at St. Cloud State University and, eight years later, moved to the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. Weary of Minnesota’s "brutal, nine-month-long winters," she headed west and joined Lewis & Clark.
Much in demand as an accompanist, Miller has performed nationwide. She appeared in New York at a Carnegie Hall debut recital with saxophonist Rita Knuessel, and she was invited to accompany the World Saxophone Congress in Chicago. Miller performed as a guest artist with the Philadelphia String Quartet and toured in Korea with saxophonist Jerry Luedders, former music department chair at Lewis & Clark. She was also a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and California State University Youth Symphony.
"Ann has been very selfless with her time," says David Becker, senior lecturer in music and director of bands. "She never wanted to turn away any student. She has been a mentor and a role model."
Miller now gives private piano lessons in her home studio, and she plans to continue performing. "Luckily, I’m in a position to continue doing what I love—teaching," says Miller.
—by Pattie Pace | 
