Milwaukee, WI

Writer Elaine Schmidt was an evangelist for music in Milwaukee

Published

3 days ago

December 31, 2024

Writer Elaine Schmidt was an evangelist for music in Milwaukee

An elbow injury disrupted the career that Elaine Schmidt might have had as a high-level flutist. Undaunted, Schmidt channeled her mellifluousness into writing about music.

For more than three decades, Schmidt wrote about classical music and the performing arts for Milwaukeeans in many contexts: freelance reviews for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, scripts for Milwaukee Public Television broadcasts, books for Hal Leonard and, in recent years, program notes for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Schmidt died Dec. 19 after a short illness, according to her family. She was 66. Her death caught many who knew her here by surprise.

“Her passing is a loss for me personally, yes, and I’m heartbroken,” wrote MSO Communications Director Erin Kogler in a Facebook post. “But more important than my personal sadness, the arts community in Milwaukee needs people like Elaine — arts evangelists. People who truly understand how important the arts are in a community and will use whatever wonderful talent they have to keep the arts strong and thriving. Fellow Milwaukee arts lovers, we all have some big shoes to fill.”

Born June 18, 1958, Schmidt was raised in Milwaukee and graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1976. After earlier study at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and Concordia University, Schmidt moved to New York to study flute and voice at The Julliard School, according to an obituary prepared by her friend Karen Herzog, a former Journal Sentinel reporter.

Schmidt worked as a musician and singer in New York until her elbow injury. She then earned a master’s degree in music criticism from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Returning to Milwaukee in 1993, she plunged into life as a freelancer or, as she wryly put it, “a gig pig,” teaching flute and voice and also writing for many customers. Her first review for the Milwaukee Sentinel, of a Master Singers Quartet concert, was published on Aug. 16, 1993. Her final review for the Journal Sentinel, of Florentine Opera’s “Maria de Buenos Aires,” was posted nearly 31 years later, on May 17, 2024.

Full disclosure: For many of those years, I was Schmidt’s assigning editor at the Journal Sentinel, commissioning and editing her reviews and articles. During hundreds of phone conversations (rarely short ones, because she liked to gab), I heard Elaine’s warm, cultured voice, often tinged with mock seriousness before unleashing a joke that could lead to boisterous laughter.

On her LinkedIn page, the proudly erudite and eclectic Schmidt wrote: “I am frighteningly well-versed in the trivial and arcane.” Here’s one example: She did a spot-on hilarious imitation of the nasal voice of Fran Drescher (star of “The Nanny”).

Schmidt revealed another facet of her creativity in 2013 when she published “The Travelers: Present in the Past,” a time-travel novel for young readers in which touching an antique quilt sent someone back in time. She followed that up a year later with “The Travelers Companion: Sharing Timeless Handwork Projects With a New Generation,” a guidebook in which she shared her passion for quilting.

Schmidt, who lived in Grafton, is survived by her husband, Mark Hoelscher; her sister Paula Schmidt, and her cat, Junior. Her family plans a celebration of her life in the spring. Memorials can be made to Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Source link

Click to comment

Milwaukee, WI

NBA Live Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET

Published

6 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

NBA Live Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET

Right back to it. The Nets face off against the Milwaukee Bucks yet again, only this time they’ll be healthier than the last time these two played. The Nets suffered a 17-point loss to the lowly Raptors on Wednesday, thus it’s a second night of a back-to-back. Not to mention, it’s the final game on the New Years road trip. It’s difficult imagining these guys will be at full force with circumstances like that. We know how they work at this rate, specifically with players like Ben Simmons and even Cam Thomas.

For the tank commanders, the Nets are ranked No. 7 at 12-21. Still a little ways to go before they reach the bottom-three.

***

0-1 in 2025!

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks (17-14)

Tune In: YES Network | WFAN Radio

***

Game Preview | Brian Fleurantin

Injuries: No Bojan Bogdanovic, Trendon Watford, or Ziaire Williams. Cam Thomas missed yesterday’s game as part of injury management, but is expected back tonight. Ben Simmons played yesterday, so chances are he’ll miss this one. Noah Clowney took a hard fall last night and had to exit the game. We’ll see how he is today. The worst news, however, may be Maxwell Lewis. He left last night’s game with a knee injury. He will be undergoing an MRI sometime today and the team will be releasing an update. Hoping for the best.
BUCKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy) and Khris Middleton (recovery from ankle surgery) are both probable.
Advertisement

The Game: He [DLo] gives the Nets another player who can get their own shot on offense, and that can help keep them close on nights they can’t make anything shake in transition. It will also be fun to see how he and Cam Thomas work as a backcourt tandem. CT is building himself back up from an extended injury absence, so managing his minutes and workload will be a fun subplot to the next week of Nets basketball.

***

Please be respectful with your comments. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source link

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee shooting: 14-year-old boy dead, man charged

Published

14 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Milwaukee shooting: 14-year-old boy dead, man charged

article

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man is criminally charged in a shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy on Saturday, Dec. 28.

Prosecutors said 19-year-old Rahshad Bates told police he was handling a gun when it went off, and he “accidentally shot his friend” while they

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

The shooting happened near 21st and Concordia. Officers were called to the scene around 9:15 p.m.

A criminal complaint states a group of people was with the 14-year-old victim, and they flagged down officers when they arrived at the scene. Bates was with the group and was seen “pacing around inside, looking out the windows” of a home after first responders began tending to the victim.

Shooting at 21st and Concordia, Milwaukee

The medical examiner’s office said the victim, Bryant Triplett, died at a hospital.

Bates spoke to police at the scene. He said he and the victim were walking dogs in the alley when “some unknown person shot a gun at them for unknown reasons,” per the complaint. Later, Bates told a detective the same story – but eventually admitted he had a gun and “accidentally shot his friend.”

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

Specifically, court filings said Bates had the gun tucked under his armpit and started to empty the gun. He had his finger on the trigger when he pulled the slide back, and the gun accidentally went off. He then, with help, carried the victim back to the house. He said he tossed the gun, but the weapon was not found.

In court

Bates is charged with one felony count: homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. Court records show Bates’ bond was set at $2,500.

Crime and Public SafetyNewsMilwaukee

Source link

Milwaukee, WI

Will Khris Middleton play against the Brooklyn Nets tonight? Latest update on the Milwaukee Bucks star's injury report (January 2, 2025) | NBA News – Times of India

Published

22 hours ago

January 2, 2025

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton tries to get past Brooklyn Nets’ Shake Milton during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks is listed as “questionable” for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Fiserv Forum on Thursday, January 2. The start time for this game is 8 p.m. ET. The Bucks, who have a 17-14 record and are presently sixth in the Eastern Conference, will be looking to gain momentum after defeating the Indiana Pacers 120–112 recently.
Khris Middleton will have to be with Giannis, who returned to the court on Tuesday after missing three games since all eyes will be on him. With an outstanding stat line of 30 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals against the Pacers, the Greek superstar showed no symptoms of rust. Despite being categorised as “probable” with right patella tendinopathy, Antetokounmpo is anticipated to play Thursday’s game against the Nets.
After undergoing bilateral ankle surgery, veteran forward Khris Middleton is still working his way back to full fitness. Khris is likewise labelled as “probable” for Thursday’s game, much like Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Tuesday’s victory, Middleton played a season-high 31 minutes, making his sixth straight appearance and showing consistent improvement in his recuperation.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Khris Middleton tries to get past Brooklyn Nets’ Jalen Wilson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Milwaukee Bucks’ medical staff will also monitor AJ Green, who is questionable with a lumbar contusion. Several players remain unavailable due to G-League assignments, including Johnson, Livingston, Robbins, and Smith.
With a day off, Milwaukee comes into the game with a significant edge over the Nets, who must contend with playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Given that both clubs are vying for spots in the difficult Eastern Conference, this scheduling discrepancy may prove to be significant.
The Bucks have a significant chance to use their home-court advantage and maybe raise their conference ranking in this game. Given Giannis’ improved durability and Khris Middleton’s likely return to the starting lineup, Milwaukee looks ready to expand on their recent success.
Before tipoff, spectators are urged to check their local listings and preferred streaming providers for game updates and the most recent information.
Also read: Top 30 most valuable NBA teams of 2024

When and where to watch Khris Middleton play tonight against the Brooklyn Nets?

With a variety of broadcast sources, fans may watch the action. Out-of-market fans may watch the game on NBA League Pass or Fubo TV, while local viewers can tune in to FDSWI or YES.

Source link