Alice F. Brook- Ottis

I grew up in a small mostly German village of about 400 people called Farmersville which was located approximately 25 miles south of Springfield, IL. I was related to at least half of the people who lived in town and outlying areas. Mom had the musical talent but chose not to go to college, staying at home to help with the farming while waiting 4 years for Dad to get home from World War 2 to get married. They built a house in town and shortly after moving in, Mom told Dad that she wanted to go to the IL State Fair and buy a piano. Mom was always very quiet but when she spoke, you knew she had something to say! I had 1 sister 4 years older than me. Once I got older (2 1/2) Mom said I would mimic her when she played so she decided it was time to teach both of us piano using the good old John Thompson books. After a couple of years, Mom wanted to find a degreed teacher and she did in Springfield. I went along to my sister's audition and after the teacher accepted her, Mom asked "What about Alice?" She said she didn't accept students that young but would listen to me. After I played, the teacher changed her mind as I was playing at a much more advanced level than my sister and said to Mom, "Did you know she has perfect pitch?" A funny story - Dad and Grandpa (his dad) owned the only grocery store in my little town. Of course I was the one Grandpa bragged about with my music. One day the bread delivery man said, "I bet she can't play Rhapsody in Blue." Of course the bet was on! My teacher found a 40 page transcription for piano since it was originally composed for piano and orchestra. I was 7 at the time and learned it for Grandpa in 3 weeks and he won the bet. Thus began my weekly piano lessons with her for 11 years. My sister got to quit when she was 16 because she said it wasn't fair that I could sightread her music that she spent months practicing. My first recital was at 5 years old and beginning at age 10, I gave solo recitals each year. When my teacher said she had no more to teach me, she set up an audition with a concert pianist. Harold Zabrack, who flew into Springfield once a month to teach some teachers. He accepted me so I studied with him each month for 2 years, in the summer driving to St. Louis twice a week when he was there. One day he said I should move to New York to compete against the talent there. My plans at that time included attending IL Wesleyan, a small university known for its music program. My parents said no but proposed an alternative. Follow the plan but after 2 years, I could choose. So oa I went to NYC with Mom & Dad pulling a UHaul trailer down 5th Ave. which was illegal and wondering how they ever agreed to such a thing! I attended Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music for 2 years but chose to leave when I realized what a financial burden it was on my parents. I returned to IL Wesleyan and finished my degree debt free. A quick story while in NYC - I loved everything about the city and was never fearful. When I moved there I was as shy and quiet as Mom but after being there for awhile, I broke out of my shell! I was riding the subway 1 day and was standing close to a seated man in a long raincoat. You guessed it....I was flashed in true NY style! What did this small town girl do? Laughed hysterically and the flasher got of at the next stop! Another story - I registered for a chamber music class and was asked several times if I was a good sight reader. After stating I believed so and wondering what I had gotten myself into, I showed up for class. The teacher was the great Raymond Lewenthal. There were students with various instruments and he grouped us as he wanted, then had us sightread difficult chamber music such as Brahms and Beethoven. I never saw so many students kicked out of a class! Needless to say, I was not very confident when my group was called next. Mr. Lewenthal had chosen a clarinet and cello to play with me - a Brahms trio. After we played, there was dead silence and we were not asked to leave! AND after a month of coaching, we were invited to perform on a faculty recital. I was planning to return to NYC for my master's degree but received a monetary oaer from the University of Tulsa that I couldn't refuse so off I go to OK looking for cowboys and Indians. After finishing my master's degree, I took a break from school, but continued teaching piano privately and group piano at TCC while working in the oil business, worked in the Tulsa Auxiliary police, did security work at Blue Ribbon Downs racetrack and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for EMSA. I always wanted to shoot a gun, drive a police car and an ambulance! After 4 years, I was toying with the idea of pursuing my doctorate so that I could try to get a college job teaching and performing. Guess what? In 2 weeks, I got laid off from the oil business, got accepted by a world-renowned artist-in-residence and received a graduate assistantship to teach at University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. I then got married to a big Tulsa guy and 1 month later, started commuting to Kansas City each week, returning to teach my Saturday students and playing my church job before returning to Kansas City every Sunday evening. I received the prestigious Graduate Award for performance, education and service and was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance. I then achieved my next goal of becoming an Assistant Professor of Music at Millikin University teaching applied piano, class piano and music theory classes. One of my students there was Jea Funk, a well-known composer/arranger who works for Warner Bros. For many years, my dream was to open a place where training was offered for all the fine arts so in 1994, I started Brook Fine Arts Academy in a space of 600 sq ft and in 1 1/2 yrs expanded to 2600 sq ft and then to 6000 sq ft. I sold it in 2018. In 1993, I became the Music Director of the Bravo! Ristorante located in the Adam's Mark Hotel downtown. It was there that I became good friends with Ralph Blane, composer of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, who would regale me with stories of his friend, Judy Garland. I also had the honor of meeting and playing for Frank Sinatra who immediately asked me to go on tour with him. I also formed a group with several singers from Bravo! and performed twice by invitation for Governor Keating, Barbara Bush and many others. I accompanied the Jenks High School vocal music program and show choirs for 20 yrs and traveled with them many times throughout the US. I finally retired from my church jobs, one for 24 yrs and one for 12 yrs. I have taught so many students, young and old, encouraging them, loving them, celebrating their accomplishments, mentoring, consoling, listening and giving advice but always telling them the truth. I can't count the number of times a student came to me saying "My friend told me to go ask Dr. Brook. She will tell you how it is." Some students grew up with me and now I see them with their own families. With others, I taught all their kids AND parents! Some are now in college or pursuing careers. A few won competitions and numerous ones have continued in their musical journey. It makes my heart happy when a former student tells me they are still playing. And I was truly humbled when I recently received a 15 page letter and newly composed music from Rick McKee, my student of at least 20 years ago, who was hired by Disney before he graduated from OCC. Rick then went to work for them, composing and arranging music that many of you have heard at Disney World, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Toyko Disney to name a few. My heartfelt thanks and love go to Dr. & Dr. Grizzle and their talented son, Trevor. They decided I needed a celebration so here we are! I'm sure some other members of Hope helped, plus Tara, my best friend for years. I have been truly blessed by many people whose paths have crossed mine. This new chapter with ALS is moving rather quickly so I don't know what is coming week to week. My gratitude, thankfulness and love go to my husband of 10 years, Paul, for his unwavering support which now includes caregiver. It has been devastating to lose my speech and especially my hands. But I believe that God is with me every step of the way and wraps me in his arms when the path seems too difficult.

Alice F. Brook- Ottis

February 16, 1953 - April 28, 2025