Jeffrey Solow

Continued in my chosen profession - cellist - as a performer, teacher, recording artist (twice nominated for a Grammy), cello music editor, and writer on cellistic subjects. After living in Brentwood, NYC, and Ann Arbor, I now live in Elkins Park, a suburb of Philadelphia, and teach at Temple University. In 1986 I married Sharee Lynn Thill, the then roommate of a NY pianist friend - originally a costumer and seamstress, now a landscape designer. I have served as president of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and am currently president of The Violoncello Society, Inc. of NY. I try to keep active with my non-musical loves of science (paleontology, in particular) and scuba diving.

Alice’s story

I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST AND NOTICED HIS FULL NAME ON HIS DDS DIPLOMA ON THE WALL. SUDDENLY I REMEMBERED THAT A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS SOME 40+ YEARS AGO. COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT. THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS WAY TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE.

AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED BEVERLY HIGH.

'YES. YES, I DID. I'M A NORMAN!' HE BEAMED WITH PRIDE.

'WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?' I ASKED.

'IN 1967. WHY DO YOU ASK?'

'YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!' I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY. THEN THAT UGLY, OLD, BALD, WRINKLED-FACED, FAT-ASSED, GRAY-HAIRED, DECREPIT SON-OF-A-BITCH ASKED:

'WHAT DID YOU TEACH???'