Peninsula: After 30 years, Centrum still a roundhouse of cultural, economic benefit

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, November 27, 2002

Centrum has been in the North Olympic Peninsula vocabulary for nearly 30 years?

But what does the word “Centrum” mean, anyway?

Says Executive Director Carol Shiffman, it means a roundhouse, or hub, and the word is used for stations in which trains come in from one direction and go out in another.

It’s a fitting analogy for what often happens to students who study through the Port Townsend-based foundation, which turns 30 years old next month.

Shiffman addressed the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce this week on where the organization has been, where it is now — and what to expect during the next year of special anniversary events.

Shiffman said it is often that special “a-ha!” moment in the creative process that changes the course of an artist’s life and sends him or her in a new direction — like the trains.

That happened to Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Diana Krall, who at age 19 was about to give up jazz before she attended a Centrum workshop.

Musician Kenny G. was also a workshop participant at Centrum.

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The rest of the story appears in the Wednesday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE, above, to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.