Chicago Music School Honors Former Leader
WDCB’s Gary Zidek sits down with Duffie Adelson, Merit School of Music’s former president and executive director, for a conversation about a life in music and the Alice S. Pfealzer Distinguished Service to the Arts Award she’s set to receive.
LISTEN
“Access is really a loaded word that means a lot, and it can mean everything when you talk about converting raw talent into proficiency.” - Duffie Adelson talking about the importance of access to music education.
Duffie Adelson, former Merit School of Music President
One of Chicago’s most prestigious music schools is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The origins of Merit School of Music go back to 1979, when Alice Pfealzer and Emma Endres-Kountz started a program in response to music education cuts in Chicago Public Schools. On May 8, Merit will honor Duffie Adelson with the Alice S. Pfealzer Distinguished Service to the Arts Award. Adelson’s leadership shaped the organization during her 30-plus years at Merit.
Merit students. Photo credit: Merit School of Music.
“Thanks to her dedication and her ability to grow over more than three decades she really put Merit on the map. I really think of Duffie as the person who took that vision and made it possible, really building on the foundation that Alice and Emma created, but then Duffie just built exponentially on that” - Charles Grode, president & executive director of the Merit School of Music, talking about Adelson’s significant role in Merit’s history.
Duffie Adelson, former Merit School of Music President. Photo credit: Kyle Flubacker
