Publicist Amanda Meyer just reminded me Region Maestro Kirk Muspratt is ready to model the other "musical hat" he wears when holding a baton.
In addition to his Northwest Indiana Symphony duties, Muspratt also is music director and conductor of the New Philharmonic Orchestra at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
The first show for their season is "Slavic Strings" Oct. 9 and 10. The 8 p.m. concerts will feature a special guest appearance by acclaimed cellist Joshua Roman.
And as is Muspratt's tradition with the NWI Symphony, his musicians visit with patrons in the lobby during intermission and share insights into concert selections.
There also are "Just Ask Kirk" cards distributed to the audience for a post-concert Q&A session, and "Cookies with Kirk," so the audience can meet and interact with the conductor.
As for headliner Roman, 25, he appeared with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in March and was selected as the only soloist for the evening. The show has now been viewed more than 1.5 million times on YouTube. Roman's performance of Bach's "Cello Suite" at the sold-out event was preceded by a video introduction by mentor Yo-Yo Ma.
"Occasionally I get to meet an extraordinary young musician," Ma said during the intro.
"Such is the case with Joshua Roman. To me, Joshua is one of the great exemplars of the ideal 21st-century musician. He's deeply grounded in a classical tradition and he is a fearless explorer of our world."
Tickets to Slavic Strings are $35 for adults, $33 for seniors and $25 for youth. To order tickets, call (630) 942-4000 oratthemac.org.
An important passing
I was sad to hear about the death of Rev. Monsignor John Charlebois, 83, who died Sept. 22 after a long battle with cancer.
Born Aug. 20, 1926 in Ontario, Canada, he was ordained a priest on May 1, 1954 at St. John the Baptist Church in Whiting by Archbishop John F. Noll. He served for 32 years at St. Paul Catholic Church in Valparaiso.
I met both Monsignor John and his brother, Monsignor Robert Charlebois of Chicago (who officiated his brother's burial this week), when I attended Valparaiso University starting in 1988.
It was in 1973 that he founded VU's Newman Catholic Student Center or the "Thunderhouse," today known as St. Teresa's.
He was a man with vision who was always able to get things done, including raising incredible amounts of money for his many inspired projects.
I was particularly impressed by his idea in 1996 to build St. Agnes Adult Daycare Center.
When I interviewed him in November that year at a zoning meeting, he discussed this 5,600-square-foot building, to be constructed on the south side of St. Paul's 43 existing acres.
"This project will be a therapeutic center for adults who cannot be left alone," Charlebois said. "I don't just want a warehouse for people. I want a senior daycare center that will stimulate both the mind and muscles.
"We planned this new center to be close to our existing Tiny Tim's Children's Daycare Center, so residents could see the children playing outside.This center will allow families and caregivers to bring their loved ones to our facilities to allow the family to also have a day off."
The $500,000 for the project was bequeathed to the church from a parishioner.
What I also remember about Charlebois (besides that he collected Lladro figurines and once scolded me for leaving Mass before the closing hymn) was how caring and loving he was to his sister Noreen Charlebois. She was always at Sunday Mass and her own limitations dictated the need of an ever-present caregiver.
His devotion and faith will be remembered by many for years to come.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.
Today's Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Steve Forrest is 85. Actress Anita Ekberg is 78. Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is 74. Actor Ian McShane and jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty are 67. Political leader Lech Walesa is 66. TV theme composer Mike Post is 65. Actress Patricia Hodge is 63. Guitarist Mike Pinera of Iron Butterfly and singer-guitarist Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad and TV personality Bryant Gumbel are 61. Nearsighted cartoon favorite Mr. Quincy Magoo is 60. Country singer Alvin Crow is 59. Actor Drake Hogestyn ("Days of Our Lives") is 56. PBS newswoman Gwen Ifill and child actor Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley on "The Addams Family") are 54. Singer Suzzy Roche of The Roches is 53. Comedian Andrew "Dice" Clay is 52. Singer-bassist Les Claypool of Primus is 46. Actress Jill Whelan ("Love Boat") is 43. Bassist Brad Smith of Blind Melon is 41. Singer Devante Swing of Jodeci is 40. Actress Emily Lloyd and actress Natasha Gregson Wagner are 39. Actress Rachel Cronin ("Ed") and actor Mackenzie Crook ("Pirates of the Caribbean") are 38. Guitarist Josh Farro of Paramore is 22. Emily Chase (daughter of Chevy Chase) is 21.
