A half century of award-winning journalism, from best feature story of 1974 (Chicago Newspaper Guild) to more than half-a-dozen consecutive annual column and profile honors (Northern Illinois News Association).
Richard Young and ‘the Deal’
“Don’t play the notes. Play the meaning of the notes.” – Pablo Casals
When Richard Young was invited to join the Vermeer Quartet in 1985, he felt he had reached the pinnacle of the chamber music world. Just 39, he had played professionally for 13 years, first with the New Hungarian Quartet and then the Rogeri Trio. But the Vermeer was in a different, more elevated class, one of the top performing ensembles in the world. Based in Chicago since its founding by Israeli violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi in 1969, the Vermeer had recorded and performed throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia and the Far East. Their records and performances routinely drew rave reviews. “The superlative playing of the Vermeer Quartet has to be heard to be believed,” said the San Francisco Chronicle. “Their performance was magnificent; majestic in style, technically without flaw, and utterly persuasive,” wrote Melbourne’s The Age. “The Vermeer Quartet’s interpretations seem so nearly ideal that one can more easily appreciate music as universal harmony,” said the Polish music magazine Ruch Muzwczny. . . .
Evanston Group Inches Closer to Eradicating Disease
North Shore Weekend, March 8, 2014 Last year there were just 404 reported cases of polio worldwide, mostly in Africa, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan. The dream of eradicating
After 40 Years, NU’s Dance Marathon Still Going Strong
Evanston RoundTable, Feb. 27, 2014 In 1975 Gerald Ford was president, a gallon of gas cost 57 cents and full-year tuition and board at Northwestern was $3,500. It was also
Oscar Race Highlights Banner Movie Year
Evanston RoundTable, Feb. 27, 2014 Handicapping the Oscars is a hazardous affair. Personal friendships, political correctness, mega-bucks marketing campaigns and even lack of time – the 6,000 members of the
With CIF’s help, Pair’s Job Prospects Brighten
Evanston RoundTable, Jan. 16, 2014 Kevin Schneider worked 18 years as a bagger at Dominick’s on Green Bay Road; Kyle Bean worked as a bagger at the same store for
But Seriously…Posen Knows the Art of Comedy
The North Shore Weekend, Jan. 3, 2014 Brian Posen is serious about being funny. The 49-year-old Glencoe native runs the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, which this year features more than
‘Philomena’ – Sad Search for a Long Lost Son
Evanston RoundTable, Dec. 19, 2013 Judi Dench’s face is a global treasure, and should be carved Rushmore-like on the Hollywood Hills. The wrinkles, furrows and lines, the range of nuance
Survivor of Nazi Massacre Had Amazing Journey
The North Shore Weekend, Dec. 13, 2013 During World War II, as a Jew in occupied France, Serge Ross escaped from two labor camps and survived a Nazi firing squad, after
Fragments
Story ideas, quotes, openings, titles:
– In some dystopian future, it’s legal to trade options on people’s lives.
– “I’d hardly describe myself as a creep. Rather….”
– “Answer Man”: Play takes place in a radio station late at night. DJ hosts weekly show, “The Answer Man” taking callers’ questions, complaints and stories. DJ and engineer laugh at callers off the air, but the stories hit too close to home.
– Doctor who has lost his license (drink? drugs? malpractice?) starts investigating Medicare fraud by nefarious insurance companies and gets way too close to the truth.
– Liberia 1982: Peace Corps volunteer befriends brilliant and ambitious Army sergeant, who foments a violent uprising against the government. Volunteer is implicated.
– “Winter Is Hard”
– Song lyric: “World’s going to hell again, Troubles seem to swell again, Heading down and round again, All because of you.”
– “Prospect Park”: urban halfway house, each chapter is a life story.
– “Diapason” (Greek for octave): Researcher finds 3,000 year-old Greek music text, with many intriguing song fragments illustrating why the ancients thought music was the most profound art. Book hints at author’s life and leads researcher to Greece for further discoveries on the power of music.