From the Publisher ’ s Desk
Photo by Kipling Swehla Photography
From the Publisher ’ s Desk
One of the most amazing byproducts of living in a city with such a robust , world class platform for arts and culture is the incalculable inspiration it provides the young musicians , artists and actors growing up within the city ’ s borders . With some of the greatest musicians and ensembles routinely performing in our concert halls and some of the most renowned actors visiting our stages , and the work of the world ’ s leading artists living or dead regularly on view in our museums , the benchmark for success is always set very high , which fuels the drive of in those who hope to become part of that cultural profile tomorrow .
Last fall , Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago announced the proclamation of 2018 as the Year of Creative Youth , and along with it an exciting new initiative that will support the young burgeoning talents here in the Windy City . This massive effort , which will galvanize and augment the resources of many of the arts education programs and institutions who serve Chicago ’ s creative youth , will culminate in a broad ranging festival this fall brandishing some of the exciting young performers homing their talents within our borders every day . Young musicians , dancers , poets and artists of all genres will take the stage in a celebration of the talented youth raising the bar for youth arts support in the Midwest .
It ’ s an incredibly inspiring project that promises to shine a well deserved light on the youth arts education programs and resources available within the city today .
An example of what can be accomplished when we channel the talents of our youth from early on , Fred Cumings interviews
star tenor Paul Appleby in our spring issue . Hyde Park native Above : Star tenor and Hyde and White Sox fan , Appleby returns to the city to perform for Park native Paul Appleby . the first time with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a program that , in many ways , brings the artist full circle . Having matriculated out of The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program , Appelby returned to the Met years later to give a highly laudable performance in the title role of Stravinsky ’ s The Rake ’ s Progress , which The New York Times could only describe as “ Spectacular .”
His return to Chicago completes a circle of arts inspiration and education that fueled a career for which major music critics see no limit , because when he takes that Symphony Center stage with Maestro Riccardo Muti this spring , Appleby ’ s achievements can then serve as fresh inspiration for young Chicagoans who now dream of grasping the same kind of opportunities .
It stands as a stark reminder that we should never underestimate the potency of inspiration , something we imbue in every issue of Clef Notes Chicagoloand Journal for the Arts .
Sincerely ,
D . Webb Publisher
Photo BY JONATHAN TICHLER
Clef N tes
Chicagoland Journal for the Arts S P R I N G 2 0 1 8
Publisher D . Webb
Editorial
Editor in Chief Patrick M . Curran II
Associate Editors Fred Cummings Scott Elam Christopher Hopper
Editorial Support Rachel Cullen
Staff Writers and Contributors Raymond Benson David Berner Isaac Jacobs Andrew Kowalczyk Oliver Peterson Leslie Price Jordan Reinwald Daniel A . Scurek
Art & Design Art Director Carl Benjamin Smith
Contributing Photographers Colin Lyons Lorenzo de Gregorio
Graphics & Design Chelsea Davis Angela Chang
Social Media Manager Mary Henley
Advertising Jason Montgomery Jason . Montgomery @ ClefNotesJournal . com
Subscriptions Clef Notes is published quarterly ( March , June , September and December ) each year . An annual subscription to the magazine may be purchased by mailing a check or money order for $ 18 to Clef Notes Publishing , Inc ., 5815 N . Sheridan Road , Suite 1107 , Chicago , IL 60660 . Bulk rates are also available . Credit card purchases may be secured online at ClefNotesJournal . com or by calling 773.741.5502 .
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