Jan. 8, 2025
Happy New Year! I took a couple of weeks of from pretty much everything just to catch my breath and reevaluate stuff. It felt good to spend time with my family, and take a few extra naps without trying to keep to a schedule. I hope your holidays were as good.
I had time to reflect on the podcast and realized that it really evolved a lot since February 2024 when I began publishing video to YouTube. When I first started doing a podcast several years ago it was audio only, each episode was about 60 minutes long and heavily edited. Now it’s about 30 minutes long and mostly unedited (except for the occasional interuption).
I’ve been fortunate to have had some amazing guests on. In the process I’ve read books, seen art, and heard music that I would not have experienced otherwise. I truly feel privileged to have been able to introduce them to you.
As most of you know, I am not very good at marketing. If there is someone you think might enjoy this please send them a link. That’s as close to a plan that I have. I honestly feel like we’re all creating a cozy little community together. If you have suggestions on how I can improve this please speak up and don’t be shy.
In case you missed it….
Last weeks guest was composer/conductor Lee Kesselman. We talked about writing music big and small including opera for children. We also talked about a new CD devoted to his music called “Would That Loving Were Enough”. It’s primarily chamber music from a guy who is known mostly for his choral
music.
In other news….
Speaking of Lee Kesselman….Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana will be performing his Kadosh/Benedictur on their “All About That Brass” program on March 2, 2025. That sounds pretty cool! Check it out if you can.
AND…
Pianist Orli Shaham has been named a Musical America Professional of the Year. Congratulations!!
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Coming next….
Author/activist and longtime friend Jane Jelenek stopped by to talk about her new book “Toxic Town Cleanup”. It’s a followup to her first book “Tombstone Town” and tells of her work on a citizens task force overseeing the cleanup of a former chemical plant that has poisoned the surrounding area. The company, state and local governments, and the EPA have all tried to sweep this under the rug and would have succeeded if not for Jane and her merry band of trouble makers. I know this sounds dreary and dry as dust, but Jane’s writing style makes it very compelling. It actually reads like a whodunnit. The story she tells is happening in many places around country and I’m hopeful it will encourage and inspire others. Please join us for a very important 30 minutes.
