Music Notes Member Newsletter

John Shea has been involved with the Old Town School of Folk Music for over 30 years, faithfully serving on our Board of Directors for 25 of them. On the Board, he has served in many capacities: from chairing the Finance & Audit and Nominating & Governance Committees, to serving as Vice President, Treasurer, and – most recently – Secretary. Modest in nature regarding his contributions to the School, John was nevertheless a trailblazer in leading the path to opening our Lincoln Square location. His generous support over the years has allowed the School to continue expanding and building its education, financial aid, and community-based programming throughout the city. In 2018, John decided to step down as a board member. In celebration of his long commitment and support, Old Town School will honor John with our Philanthropist of the Year award as part of the 2018 Legends Dinner at Carnivale on November 14, 2018. The School was able to sit down with John and get the following tidbits about his life and involvement with the School:

First Concert: Don’t recall the concert, but it took place in 1987.

How/when did you first get involved with the Old Town School board? I’d been attending concerts for many years at this point. In late 1992, I attended the 35th anniversary concert event at a Niles high school. During intermission of the concert, a board member (whom I can’t remember) approached me and asked if I would join the board. I accepted and joined soon thereafter.

After so many years of involvement, what keeps you motivated to continue your support of the School? What this School did and continues to do keeps me coming back. The love of the music and education drives my continued support of the School.

Favorite performance at Old Town School? Saturday, November 4, 1995 – a concert featuring Corky Siegel and a very young Robbie Fulks! This date is memorable because it was my first date with my now-wife Beth.

Do you play any instrument(s)? If yes, which ones? No instruments. When I was in 5th or 6th grade the Eugene Field School was offering music classes. So, I paid a quarter and signed up. They asked what instrument I played and I said, none. So, they suggested that I sign up for tap dance class. While my tap dance classes were brief, I believe I still know how to do the side-shuffle step.

What do you see for the future of Old Town School? Wherever you guys put it.

A quintessential John Shea answer that leaves the School open to accomplishing just about anything we put our minds to. Thank you, John, for your 25 years of service to the Old Town School Board and countless years of support – we are beyond appreciative!

Old Town School of Folk Music is pleased to share that on Saturday, September 15, 2018 over 500 people attended Quantum Englewood, a journey through 100 Years of South Side Musical History. Engaging a cast of hundreds of musicians in an exploration of the heritage that surrounds their music, the world premiere performance took place at Lindblom Academy Auditorium in Englewood. Quantum Englewood was created by renowned Chicago musical artists Ernest Dawkins and Rahul Sharma.

Although often portrayed as an emblem of Chicago’s ongoing issues with poverty and gun violence, the south side Englewood neighborhood possesses a rich musical pedigree, including European traditions in its early years that were later supplanted by African-American gospel, blues, jazz, r&b, hip-hop, West African, Caribbean and trans-global art forms. Like the quantum mechanics that govern our environment at a level we cannot directly perceive, all of Englewood’s music-makers left their echoes behind.

Mr. Dawkins is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist, a lifelong resident of the Englewood neighborhood, and leader of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), the largest African-American music collective in the world. Dr. Sharma, a bassist and sitarist, is well known in Chicago as the leader of Funkadesi, a multicultural performing ensemble that has represented many of Chicago’s global music traditions for over 20 years.

The following individuals/groups participated:

• Live the Spirit Jazz Ensemble
• FUNKADESI
• South Children Gospel Choir
• Ben Lamar
• Phenom & Poetree, Inc.
• Fernando Jones' Blue Kids
• Paul Cotton West African Drum & Dance
• Maggie Brown
• Foli Dambe
• The Bucket Boys
• Idy Ciss
• Emcee Skool
• Lindblom Acapella Choir
• Music Moves Students and Community Members from: Real Men’s Charity, The Beat Bank, Let Your Rhymes Inspire Creativity (LYRIC), IGrow Chicago, Old Town School Fiddlers

Quantum Englewood's student performers worked on their parts in their individual locations, coming together for large rehearsals and performances at the end of the process. A videographer documented all phases of the project for the rehearsal to the final performance. Through shared online streaming and transmedia storytelling, Quantum Englewood will be disseminated among Chicago’s many youth-centered musical institutions, non-profit arts organizations, community choirs and faith-based groups, gathering additional participants.

Chicago remains one of the most segregated, yet culturally rich cities in America. The artistic treasure to be gained by overcoming the city’s divisions is profound. Quantum Englewood hopes to challenge the ways that Chicago interacts, by bringing groups from rarely intersecting areas of the city together to explore and represent the musical traditions that are core elements of Englewood's musical history, and instill their global value into the young people of the entire city.

Special thanks to our Quantum Englewood sponsors:

Old Town School of Folk Music is thrilled to present our 2018 Distinguished Teaching Artist Award winners! This year’s awardees are: Bill Brickey, Dan Fulkerson, and Lindsay Weinberg

The Distinguished Teaching Artist Awards were established to honor exemplary teachers and their tremendous commitment to the School. What makes this award unique is that these individuals were nominated by their peers and then selected by a board committee to be recognized for their outstanding work with Old Town School.

Past winners include:
2017: Julie Helenius, Jacob Sweet, and Chris Walz
2016: Mark Dvorak, Charles Kim, and Mary Peterson
2015: Jason McInnes, Reggio McLaughlin, and Elaine Moore
2014: Steve Levitt, Maria McCullough, and Shelley Miller

Teaching artists are the heart and soul of what the Old Town School is all about – teaching in the come-one, come-all folk tradition. Teachers and students are able to connect in a welcoming, non-competitive environment.

Please congratulate these outstanding individuals when you see them, or better yet, sign up for a class and witness for yourself what makes these folks so popular!

Learn more about our 2018 Legends dinner by going to: oldtownschool.org/legendsdinner

On Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Old Town School of Folk Music will be hosting its 4th annual Legends Dinner at Carnivale (702 W. Fulton Market). Celebrating our past as we look forward to the future, Old Town School of Folk Music remains committed to our promise: extending opportunities for everyone to experience, learn and build their own creative life. Through the Legends Dinner, we celebrate the role of philanthropists, musicians and educators who sustain Chicago’s unique and vibrant music scene.

This year’s honorees include:

• John Shea, philanthropist and long time board member
• Ernest Dawkins, renowned jazz saxophonist and educator
• Michael Miles, master banjoist and educator
• 2018 Distinguished Teaching Artist Awardees: Bill Brickey, Dan Fulkerson, and Lindsay Weinberg

Thank you to the following sponsors: Susan and Bob Arthur, Jim and Kay Mabie, Gary and Laura Maurer, Don McLellan and Martina Keller, John Shea.

For more information about the event, to attend, or make a donation in honor of any of the awardees, please visit oldtownschool.org/legendsdinner or contact Anita O’Connell at aoconnell@oldtownschool.org / 773-751-3365

Want to attend the 2018 Legends Dinner? Here is your chance! As a sign of our gratitude for your support as a member here at the Old Town School of Folk Music, follow the link below to enter for your chance to win two complimentary Legends Dinner tickets!

ENTER TO WIN »

Deadline to Enter: Friday, October 12, 2018
Winner will be selected by: Monday, October 22, 2018