Author: Douglas McLennan

ALL IT TAKES IS BELIEVING

In a public school system that teachers routinely flee because of low pay and other concerns, one music teacher has outlasted seven principals and myriad budget cutbacks – even splitting her days between two schools during one three-year stretch. During that time, she’s fashioned one of Washington DC’s most successful elementary school music programs, one that sends students to perform at sporting events (including Capitals and Wizards games), sells out a local church at its annual musical (this year’s offering: “Brigadoon”) and lures professionals to join their performances (most recently, folk singer Tom Paxton). Oh yes, and the kids won a Grammy, too. – Washington Post

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Student at the San Francisco Art Institute staged a sexually-explicit performance with a volunteer that shocked this normally adventurous cutting-edge institution.  “It is considered a serious violation for you or any individual to participate in any activity, sexual or not, which involves exposing yourself or others to any bodily fluids or excretions including but not limited to feces, urine, semen, saliva and blood,” reads a letter from the Institute’s vice president and dean of academic affairs. – Washington Post

  • “If I have to not have sex on campus anymore, they’d better put that in the student handbook, and then we can decide whether that’s an appropriate rule or not,” says the student. – SF Weekly

BEHIND BALLET

Dancer Natalia Makarova is working with San Francisco Ballet for the first time. “Is it all right to talk about the soul, do you think?” asks one of the most soulful ballerinas in the history of dance. “It is a cliche, so I don’t talk much about it. Instead, let’s talk about the spirit. Spirit means something in ballet, means everything in `La Bayadere.’ ” – San Francisco Chronicle

GUNNING FOR THE TOP

The Dallas Symphony is 100 years old this year, and it’s got big dreams. “The board has a mandate to get Dallas within America’s top-tier orchestras. It’s a long-term project. I think it will take 10 years. And another five before the world notices.” Money helps. The orchestra regularly sells out its concerts, and is raising $100 million for its endowment. Is it possible to buy a tradition as something more than a good, solid, middle-of-the-road American orchestra? – New York Times

THE “ART” OF THE PIANO

Artur Rubinstein had one of the longest careers as a pianist in the 20th Century and one of the greatest. Now a 94-CD 106-hour collection of his recordings is being released. The pianist’s recordings were said not to have given the full measure of his talent, but they do map out an extraordinary career. – Washington Post