Roger Tenney 1930-2023

There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of: “It’s not so much that children make beautiful music, but that music makes children beautiful.”

No one knew that better than Roger Tenney, who taught choral music at Owatonna High School for more than 30 years before retiring in 1992.

Now, scores of those students are singing his praises after learning of Tenney’s death on Aug. 13. He was 93.

Student reactions

“He was a masterful teacher and a tremendous motivator,” John Idstrom, a 1978 graduate of OHS, said on a Facebook post. “I would have taken basketweaving if he taught it. The lessons he taught about commitment and focus and persistence had applications far beyond the choir room. He was one of the greatest people and teachers ever.”

Steve Tollefson agreed: “He loved music, but he loved people more. He tried to get me in choir, but I can’t sing. The world is a better place because of him.”

Much of the world got to see Tenney, too, thanks to an appearance at the White House – and The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1966, Tenney was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year; the following year, he received the prestigious title of National Teacher of the Year.

He was honored at a reception at the White House in April of 1967, lauded by none other than Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson.

“I am very much impressed – both by your music and your message,” Johnson said. “…we pay tribute to a teacher who makes musicians out of football players, and who makes memberships in his choir as sought-after as a place on the first team.”

Julie Kaplan, a 1971 OHS graduate who now lives in California, was one of those students seeking membership, “but I was tone deaf,” she said on Facebook.

“I wanted so badly to be in choir in high school … Mr. Tenney took me into a private music room and encouraged me to sing. He was so kind and so patient,” Kaplan said. “I did not make the choir, but that moment still resonates with me.”

National reactions

President Johnson, too, recognized Tenney’s gifts, calling him “an unusual man. The young singers from his high school have won national recognition. He directs three choirs at the local high school. He is the organizer and director of a community choir in his city. He directs two choirs at his church. He teaches adult classes in speech, music conducting and music appreciation.

“He coaches young singers individually,” Johnson continued. “He judges 10 to 12 regional and state music contests each year – and somehow, he finds time in his busy schedule to participate in civic affairs, including work with the local Boy Scout troop.”

The president also mentioned then-Congressman Al Quie, who was also in attendance. Quie, who later went on to become governor of Minnesota, died last week.

It was another Minnesota politician whom Ruth Hosfield mentioned in her memories of Tenney.

“During the summer of 1967 I was working in the (OHS) principal’s office when I answered the phone,” Hosfield said. “It was Vice President Hubert Humphrey calling for Mr. Tenney. Since it was summer, I wasn’t able to locate him by the intercom, and he wasn’t in his office. I ran through the hallways of the old building and finally found him to tell him he had an important call.

“The VP, who had made the call himself, was still holding, and I transferred the call,” she said.

Tenney was asked to make an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show just days after his national honor.

He was in the audience, stood and took a bow when introduced; he shared the limelight that night with Bobby Vinton, Bert Lahr, Joan Rivers, Jackie Mason and The McGuire Sisters.

Big venues

Of course, Tenney always remained humble, committed only to great music.

He paired it with a great sense of humor, said Jim Wuamett, another OHS grad.

“I asked him to write a recommendation when I was applying for med school in 1967,” Wuamett said on Facebook. “He smiled and asked, ‘would you like me to sign it “National Teacher of the Year?”’”

True to form, Tenney didn’t accept his national award alone: He was accompanied by the OHS choir of 40 boys and 40 girls, who sang at the ceremony. The group also sang at the iconic Washington Cathedral.

Scott Springman, who graduated from OHS in 1991 and is now a teacher in St. Anthony, wrote about a trip near the end of Tenney’s career.

“I remember coming off the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City … and hearing (as we moved to our seats) somebody say, ‘I didn’t know a high school choir could sound like that!’ That was a moment of great pride in our choir, high school and town,” Springman said. “It was because of Mr. Tenney.”

Final respects

Many of those former students will also sing at Tenney’s funeral.

His family asked Peter Schlief, who graduated from OHS in 1990 and has been teaching choral music for nearly 30 years, to organize a choir. The group will sing “Beautiful Savior” and “Oh Day Full of Grace,” one of Tenney’s favorites.

Schlief said reconnecting with the family was a matter of divine timing.

“It’s a cool story,” he said. “Roger’s grandson, Ben Schori, just got installed (as associate pastor) at the church that I work at in Northfield. So his mom and his aunties were all there – and I knew them, because Roger was not just my choir director; he was also my backyard neighbor.”

Tenney’s health was failing, and his daughters asked if Schlief would be willing to put together a choir for his service.

Less than two weeks later, Tenney died; Schlief put out a request for choir members on Facebook.

“We’ve got folks flying from D.C. and from Florida … so this guy’s impact was far and wide,” Schlief said. “It’s a testament to Roger as a person, and it’s also a testament to music, to the impact that music can have on people.”

More than 50 people have responded, from students to current St. Olaf choir members to choral directors across the state.

Tenney was “really influential in our professional organizations, as well,” Schlief said, “so a lot of those folks are wanting to pay their respects, too.”

As accolades rolled in for his grandfather, Schori provided a more personal note.

“He will be remembered by many for his outstanding work in choral directing,” Schori said, “but I’ll also remember his delicious pancakes and top-notch Donald Duck impression.”

In announcing his grandfather’s death, he wrote what many were probably thinking:

“Maybe the good Lord will let him direct one of the angelic choirs; he’s pretty good at that.”