Discover why Michael Allen Harrison returned to Parkrose High School for a special concert that was part of the fundraising effort to save the school’s choir program …
Almost every seat of the Parkrose High School Theater is filled as this year’s revived ‘Home for the Holidays’ concert, dedicated to save the school’s choir program, begins.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Allen Harrison – Portland’s prolific composer, pianist, and musical producer of 40 years – came “back home” to his alma mater, Parkrose High School, after his hectic Holiday-season concerts had concluded, to perform in an annual fundraising show he called “Home for the Holidays”. But those shows didn’t return after the pandemic.
However, it was at the request of a retired Parkrose High teacher, Leslie Bossert, Harrison returned to the Parkrose High School Theater stage to perform on Saturday afternoon, December 27.
Michael Allen Harrison welcomes the audience who came to concert.
“This afternoon, we will be performing highlights from our ‘Christmas at the Old Church’ Holiday shows with Julianne Johnson – supported by Jack Mortensen on bass, and Israel Annoh on percussion – and, with guest artists Barbara Lusch, the Parkrose High School Choir, and the Parkrose Alumni Choir,” Harrison told the audience as he started the concert.
“And, as part of the program, we’ll be honoring the legacy of three of the school’s legendary Choir directors,” Harrison added.
Concert highlights
Harrison began by performing what he said was the first song he composed “on the Steinway on the Parkrose High stage” – it’s entitled “Journey of a Thousand Dreams” [Listen to it on YouTube: CLICK HERE.]
The “Michael Allen Harrison Trio”, with Jack Mortensen and Israel Annoh, perform.
Next was “Little Drummer Boy”, with a solo by percussionist Israel Annoh.
“We all knew her as ‘BooBoo’: Please welcome star of stage and screen, Barbara Lusch,” is how Harrison introduced his guest artist, before she sang “Merry Christmas, Darling”.
Michael Allen Harrison accompanies her friend of 50 years – and performing collaborator for 37 years – vocalist Julianne Johnson.
Raising the show’s tempo, Julianne Johnson next sang Stevie Wonder’s song “Someday at Christmas”, followed by a soulful rendition of “O Holy Night”.
New Parkrose High School Choir Director John Crever is introduced by Michael Allen Harrison.
Then, Harrison introduced the new Parkrose High School Choir Director, John Crever, who conducted two songs sung by Parkrose High School Choral students, and then one performed by their full choir.
It’s Parkrose High Choir Girl’s Trio – Eliza Neill, Dylan Dunlap, and Cassidy Wall – singing “Santa Baby (Shimmy Down the Chimney Tonight)”.
Costumed, and with cookies as props, Henry Nuygen and Hermes Taggard animatedly perform “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”.
The Parkrose High School Choir sings “Believe in Love” by W. Mitchell Owens III, accompanied by retired Choir Director Lesley Ann Bossert.
It was then that Harrison invited members of what he called the Parkrose Alumni Choir to join him on the risers on the stage, noting that participants ranged from the Class of 1963 to 2025.
Presentation of the Parkrose High School Alumni Legacy Award
Harrison also invited family members of retired Parkrose High School Choir Director, LaRoyce Findlay, along with Dan Dalzell and Lesley Ann Bossert, to join them on stage.
“Choir is so important because it’s the place you make memories,” Harrison explained to the audience. “You don’t make cherished high school memories in math class!” That observation drew a hearty laugh from the audience.
Telling why music at Parkrose High School was so important to him, Michael Allen Harrison prepares to present plaques.
“You make memories in group activities – whether it’s a sport, or in our case, the arts,” Harrison continued. “Your Parkrose High Choir Directors have always been so dedicated to helping young people reach their musical potential – and make memories.”
With that, Harrison presented a series of crystal memento plaques inscribed:
Parkrose High School Alumni Legacy Award
You Made A Difference!
Your Legacy Lives In Us!
Being presented a Parkrose High School Alumni Legacy Award are Lesley Ann Bossert, Dan Dalzell, and – accepting for LaRoyce Findlay, who passed away in 1987 – her great nieces Heidi Kemp Simon, and Tami Kemp Jewell, who remark, “we were known as The Twins”.
With that, the Parkrose Alumni Choir sang a medley of “Joy to the World” and “Carol of the Bells”; and concluded the special concert with “Silent Night”.
About this concert and fundraising effort
After the show Harrison met East Portland News to fill in the details of why and how this concert came about. “I’ve been connected to Parkrose High since being a student here – a long, long time ago. Being a ‘Bronco’ is still in my blood.
“So, when Lesley [Bossert] called and told me that the Choir program was in trouble – that the school could lose it altogether – I responded,” Harrison recalled. “I got together with her and some other people, and had conversations with the Parkrose School District Superintendent.”
After Harrison made commitments to support the program, including producing the afternoon’s fundraising concert, Choral education at the high school was saved for the time being. “Then, we found a great new Choir Director in John Crever, who will be carrying on this great legacy of music at Parkrose High.”
The Parkrose Alumni Choir beautifully sings, closing out the special concert.
Asked what the afternoon meant to him, Harrison thought for a moment before responding. Looking off into the darkened theater, he replied, “It’s that I really got to relive the past, and feel the present and the future, here – at the same time.
“It’s a really unique sensation where there is no concept of time. Such moments are filled with a wonderful feeling I can’t put into words.”
You can still help keep the Parkrose High School Choral program going strong by contributing online: CLICK HERE.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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