Lien, Barbara 1944-1998

LIEN, BOETEL, VOERTMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/25/2012 at 10:39:30

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 7, 1998

BARBARA LIEN

Barbara Lien, a member of the Grinnell College faculty since 1985, died of cancer Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. She was 54.

Services were conducted Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Grinnell.

Ms. Lien taught piano to Grinnell College students and others, performed with the Grinnell Singers and the Grinnell Community Chorus, and played recitals with music faculty and guest artists. For 10 years, until the time of her illness, she was the director of the Rocky Ridge Music Center Junior Seminar each summer at Estes Park, Colo.

She was the daughter of George and Lorinda Boetel and was born Aug. 29, 1944, in Omaha, Neb. She attended school in Omaha and Jefferson and received a degree in music from Drake University. In 1976, she moved with her family to Grinnell.

Ms. Lien received Special Merit awards in music compostion from the American College Theater Festival for the musical theater pieces "Lysistrata" and Tartuffe" composed with B.G. Voertman, assistant professor emerita of theater at Grinnell.

She composed the music for the full-length play, "Out of the Woods," also in collaboration with Voertman, which was produced by the Grinnell Community Theatre. Her other compositions include "Iowa Cantata," a choral piece written for the Grinnell Singers; "An Advent Anthem"; "Come Sweet Darkness"; and additional sacred music pieces. She served as musical director for many Grinnell Community Theatre plays as well as, most recently, Grinnell Productions' "Tintypes" and "The Fantasticks."

Ms. Lien maintained a private music teaching studio in Grinnall and was an active member of the Iowa Music Teachers Association. As music director, organist and choir director at Grinnell's First Presbyterian Church since 1977, she collaborated with the Rev. Michael Smith to establish the tradition of "Jazz Sunday," an annual celebration with local and guest artists playing jazz and gospel music.

She is survived by her children, Leslie Lien of Iowa City, Jane Lien of Grinnell, John of Anchorage, Alaska, and George of Cedar Rapids; her brother, Charles Boetel of San Diego; and by her life partner, B.G. Voertman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rocky Ridge Music Center, P.O. Box 18727, Lincoln, Neb. 68501-1727.