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.