Jim called me a few years ago, just to say HI! (For the last 50 years or so, I would call him, or he would call me, just to say: "how are you doing?") His voice was a bit gravelly during his last call, but, his tone of voice was still gentle and kind.
I first met Jimmy Levine in Walnut Hills High School, when we were teenagers. Measured in days, I was 79 days older than him, but, measured in human experiences, he was older. (He would visit New York City's Manhattan a few times every month.). If I was 16, he was 40, in that measure.
Over the years, we would have many private discussions, covering limitless topics. I once confessed that the poen "Trees," by Alfred Joyce Kilmer resonated with me. (It was a poem being studied in English class at the time.) It touched me in a spiritual way, and I connected with nature's spirituality and my life on earth. Instead of mocking me for being so tender, Jimmy thought for a moment, smiled and said, "that's great. It speaks well of the person you are."
He was an encourager.
In the early years, Jimmy confided with me that, while he did not know why, but, God had reached down, touched him and had given him a very special gift for music. He said he wanted to honor that gift every day for his life. And, today, I say that he did. From that moment on, I realized that for myself, what I was or what I could become, and what I had or would ever have, would be gifts from God. Gratitude was taking root in my being. Thanks Jimmy!
He was an encourager.
In our Junior year, Jimmy was the music conductor for our class production, THE PEANUTS. I was a trumpeter, and part of a 5-member ensemble. I was given a chance to play a solo!! With perfect timing, while he was still conducting the piece, he nodded to me, and I stood up. I blew my horn for about 90 seconds, sounding out a few bars of "I'VE GOT RHYTHM" while several girls on stage danced like they were the ROCKETS OF RADIO CITY HALL. Finished, I sat down, and still directing, Jimmy quickly glanced at me, smiled and nodded as if to say "good job!"
He was an encourager.
Over the years, he and i would have many discussions. After High School, he would visit his Cincinnati family during his Christmas break, and make time for me. We would talk about anything that came to mind...like "who was our favorite high school teacher?" and "who was the better dancer, Gene Kelly or Fred Astair...hmmm?" We could laugh at the same humor and be saddened with the same tradegy. With his huge advantage in life experiences, Jim could have easily looked down and me with a sneer. He never did Instead, he would listen and calmly reply to my questions or comments, as if I were his equal. I was not. By experiencing Jim's words and demeanor, I learned that every day would bring challenges. But, facing them head on was the best strategy to overcoming them. If I did that process, I would be stronger today than I was yesterday. He conveyed to me a sense that life was an adventure. Welcome changes and challenges. As a result, I can say now, in my later years, that I have experienced many many WOW moments! I have learned, thanks to Jim's encouragement in my teenage years, that the value of my existence is not in how many days I put into my life, but how much life I put into my days!!!
He was an encourager.
Bravo, Maestro Jim!!
Thank you Jim for being part of my life! I appreciate you! I miss you!
Dick, thank you for your tribute to the prodigy many of us called "Jimmy." You are fortunate for decades with him. My memories are as intense as yours, though I knew him well for just a few years. As one of the "Rockettes" who danced in PEANUTS and WALNUTS prooductions while Jimmy conducrted and you blew soul out of your trumpet, I am grateful for every day of those years.
Nancy (Kock) Upper
Maestro James. Everyday he would do things that were truly enthralling.
To do this likely seems easy, but probably not,
A couple yrs ago I heard him do the Mozart Seraglio. He got it in between the the early music crowd rendition, with just a touch of the old style,barely in there. Unforgettable. and so zippy. Breathless.
TS Eliot said something about April being.the .. ...month..
When they sing Victoria the medieval composer at WHHS music vocal class, James will be there. I Soovere
In 2020, as part of adapting to home confinement because of Covid, Rich and I took out a subscription to the Metropolitan opera. It was fantastic, the best thing we've ever done to put the virus out of our minds--most of all, the operas Jimmy conducted (especially Wagner, which we listened to over and over). I would recommend those performances as a way of remembering Jimmy and his fantastic contribution to the world of music. It wasn't just the music or the performance.... you saw the love that Jimmy had for the music,....for the members of the orchestra,...for the performers. A few times we watched an opera conducted by Jimmy and then the same opera with another conductor. The others were "correct", but failed to show the emotional engagement, the extraordinary love that was so clear with Jimmy.
Richard C. Drayson
Jim called me a few years ago, just to say HI! (For the last 50 years or so, I would call him, or he would call me, just to say: "how are you doing?") His voice was a bit gravelly during his last call, but, his tone of voice was still gentle and kind.
I first met Jimmy Levine in Walnut Hills High School, when we were teenagers. Measured in days, I was 79 days older than him, but, measured in human experiences, he was older. (He would visit New York City's Manhattan a few times every month.). If I was 16, he was 40, in that measure.
Over the years, we would have many private discussions, covering limitless topics. I once confessed that the poen "Trees," by Alfred Joyce Kilmer resonated with me. (It was a poem being studied in English class at the time.) It touched me in a spiritual way, and I connected with nature's spirituality and my life on earth. Instead of mocking me for being so tender, Jimmy thought for a moment, smiled and said, "that's great. It speaks well of the person you are."
He was an encourager.
In the early years, Jimmy confided with me that, while he did not know why, but, God had reached down, touched him and had given him a very special gift for music. He said he wanted to honor that gift every day for his life. And, today, I say that he did. From that moment on, I realized that for myself, what I was or what I could become, and what I had or would ever have, would be gifts from God. Gratitude was taking root in my being. Thanks Jimmy!
He was an encourager.
In our Junior year, Jimmy was the music conductor for our class production, THE PEANUTS. I was a trumpeter, and part of a 5-member ensemble. I was given a chance to play a solo!! With perfect timing, while he was still conducting the piece, he nodded to me, and I stood up. I blew my horn for about 90 seconds, sounding out a few bars of "I'VE GOT RHYTHM" while several girls on stage danced like they were the ROCKETS OF RADIO CITY HALL. Finished, I sat down, and still directing, Jimmy quickly glanced at me, smiled and nodded as if to say "good job!"
He was an encourager.
Over the years, he and i would have many discussions. After High School, he would visit his Cincinnati family during his Christmas break, and make time for me. We would talk about anything that came to mind...like "who was our favorite high school teacher?" and "who was the better dancer, Gene Kelly or Fred Astair...hmmm?" We could laugh at the same humor and be saddened with the same tradegy. With his huge advantage in life experiences, Jim could have easily looked down and me with a sneer. He never did Instead, he would listen and calmly reply to my questions or comments, as if I were his equal. I was not. By experiencing Jim's words and demeanor, I learned that every day would bring challenges. But, facing them head on was the best strategy to overcoming them. If I did that process, I would be stronger today than I was yesterday. He conveyed to me a sense that life was an adventure. Welcome changes and challenges. As a result, I can say now, in my later years, that I have experienced many many WOW moments! I have learned, thanks to Jim's encouragement in my teenage years, that the value of my existence is not in how many days I put into my life, but how much life I put into my days!!!
He was an encourager.
Bravo, Maestro Jim!!
Thank you Jim for being part of my life! I appreciate you! I miss you!
Aloha,
Dick Drayson
Maxene M. Fabe (Mulford)
Dick,
Unforgettable memorial to Jiimmy. Thank you for writing it and sharing it. ~Maxene Fabe Mullford
Nancy Kock (Upper)
Dick, thank you for your tribute to the prodigy many of us called "Jimmy." You are fortunate for decades with him. My memories are as intense as yours, though I knew him well for just a few years. As one of the "Rockettes" who danced in PEANUTS and WALNUTS prooductions while Jimmy conducrted and you blew soul out of your trumpet, I am grateful for every day of those years.
Nancy (Kock) Upper
Ilo Soovere
Maestro James. Everyday he would do things that were truly enthralling.
To do this likely seems easy, but probably not,
A couple yrs ago I heard him do the Mozart Seraglio. He got it in between the the early music crowd rendition, with just a touch of the old style,barely in there. Unforgettable. and so zippy. Breathless.
TS Eliot said something about April being.the .. ...month..
When they sing Victoria the medieval composer at WHHS music vocal class, James will be there. I Soovere
Sally Hamlin (Price)
In 2020, as part of adapting to home confinement because of Covid, Rich and I took out a subscription to the Metropolitan opera. It was fantastic, the best thing we've ever done to put the virus out of our minds--most of all, the operas Jimmy conducted (especially Wagner, which we listened to over and over). I would recommend those performances as a way of remembering Jimmy and his fantastic contribution to the world of music. It wasn't just the music or the performance.... you saw the love that Jimmy had for the music,....for the members of the orchestra,...for the performers. A few times we watched an opera conducted by Jimmy and then the same opera with another conductor. The others were "correct", but failed to show the emotional engagement, the extraordinary love that was so clear with Jimmy.