Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Mark Dvorak to receive Lifetime Achievement Award!

Usually the recognition that Mark Dvorak receives is applause from audiences and thanks from guitar students — such appreciation warms the heart. Now he’s to be the recipient of a different form of recognition: the Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement award. Mark will join past winners Art Thieme, Ella Jenkins, Larry Penn, Amy Beth, Holly Near and Jim Post, in being recognized for a broad, long-term contribution to the local and national folk community.

In her letter to Mark, Festival Board Vice President Annemarie Serra writes:

“[We are giving you the Seventh annual Woodstock Folk Festival Lifetime Achievement Award] in recognition of your work as a performer, teacher and folk historian. You are a vibrant part of the local and national folk community. Not only have you contributed to the Old Town School of Folk Music as a teacher but you have also kept the history of the school and its founders alive. It seems especially appropriate that we honor you as OTSFM has just completed its 50th Anniversary year in which you played a key role.”

The formal conferring of the award will take place on July 20th, at the 2008 Wookstock Folk Festival, on the historic town square in Woodstock, Illiniois. (For more information, see www.woodstockfolkmusic.com/folkfestival).

Congratulations, Mark! We’re proud to have you as a friend and colleague!

Filed under: Teacher bios by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (1)

Dvorak Wins Lifetime Achievement Award - Details coming!


Filed under: Teacher bios, Uncategorized by Skip | March 21, 2008 | Comments (0)

Compy School - Old Town School teaching style applied to computers!

If you’ve taken any Old Town School classes from Arlo Leach, you know his style of teaching — he makes learning fun and easy. He’s now applying that in Compy School, his friendly computer school a bit south of the Old Town School at 3831 N. Lincoln. Now you can develop your computer skills under Arlo’s guidance.

If you stop by, you’ll see his neat facilities. He offers classes, workshops, and even individual lessons targeted to what you need to know. Beginners are welcome, as are people with individual questions/problems/skills they need addressed. As Arlo is not always there, call him (number below) if you want to set up a visit.

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Filed under: Teacher bios by Skip | December 6, 2007 | Comments (0)

Highlight: Julia Storke

Many Old Towners know Julia as a voice or piano teacher; some have seen her before as a singer-songwriter, performing her music and reading her poetry. But did you know that she’s also an actress and dancer, with credits in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Argentina? Her work has included performing the lead role of Lili in Why We Have a Body at Theater Rhinoceros and dancing in the long-running hit musical, Floss! Julia brings her students this background, plus years of K-8 classroom experience and the benefit of multiple grants from the Chicago Foundation for Education for her classroom work.

Julia performs periodically in the Chicago area, including at Davenports, 1383 N. Milwaukee. To find out when she will be there next, call the club at 773-278-1830 or check with Julia at the School.

Filed under: Teacher bios by Skip | November 24, 2007 | Comments (0)

Arlo Leach - guitar and jug band!

Arlo Leach joined the Old Town School faculty in 2003 as a guitar instructor, then in 2005 added jug band classes to his duties.

He encourages readers to take up jug playing, explaining that “guitarists are everywhere, but a good jugger is hard to find.” Last February, Arlo led his class band, the Hump Night Thumpers, to win the day-long, 25th annual Battle of the Jug Bands in Minneapolis. When not teaching music, Arlo works as a web development consultant, and in his free time enjoys biking and reading. He lives near the school in Lincoln Square, a neighborhood he wants to take with him if he ever leaves Chicago. Arlo is enjoying the life of a newlywed, having married Sally Giles last fall. The entertainment at their wedding included the Hump Night Thumpers and a pickup group of his fellow guitar teachers.

Arlo has a new, small business: it’s Compy School at 3831 Lincoln Avenue. Need help in using your computer? Arlo’s easy, patient teaching style is ideal for learning the basics or advanced techniques, so he welcomes anyone from total beginners up. Check out his offerings at compyschool.com or (773) 348-9900.

Filed under: Teacher bios by Skip | October 11, 2007 | Comments (0)