Life, Music, And The Pursuit Of Answers

Phil Circle talks with Chris Bell, a former union pipe fitter, now owner of Flatts and Sharpe Music, Chicago proper's second biggest music lesson provider. Sitting in the lobby of her Rogers Park store, they reflect on Chicago's past and present, how it relates to other American cities, and the massive changes in the world today. Chris shares her experiences growing up in the neighborhood and reflects on what's changed and why.  Also in this conversation they talk about the future of one of the world's greatest orchestras, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As of this podcast, the CSO musicians were on strike for a number of reasons. Chris Bell gives her balanced appraisal of the situation and talks about her efforts to support local musicians by presenting free shows at her music store. Weeks later, the CSO won the strike. This show was recorded at Flatts and Sharpe Music in Rogers Park, Chicago, on April 18th, 2019. Phil Circle taught at Chris Bell's store until opening his own lesson facility in the n