My wife Beth and I met on the first day of kindergarten. We still have the class picture. I was smitten from day one, it took her another 25 years or so to come around but that’s another story. In high-school we were in the orchestra together. She played the sax and I played percussion. Joe was our high-school music teacher and I’d have a hard time expressing how influential he was for us. We learned so much more than music from him. Beth is now a middle school band director and Joe’s guidance and support have played a big part in her development. I’ve wanted to photograph Mr. Soprani, (still have a hard time with calling him Joe) for a long time. You might say it was a Bucket List item for me. I’m thrilled we recently had the chance to knock that off the list. A close relationship with a favorite teacher is one of the best experiences a kid could have.
