Tuesday (6/1) on the Post-Dispatch online (Saint Louis), Deb Peterson reports, “Adam Crane, director of communications for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and an honorary co-chair of the annual National Alliance on Mental Illness walk, had some top talent from the orchestra walking with him on Saturday. Crane’s team from the orchestra included Amy Kaiser, chorus director; Bjorn Ranheim, cellist; Jessica Cheng, first violinist; Shawn Weil, second violinist; Cece Weinkauff, extra violinist; Eddie Silva, publications manager; and Maggie Bailey, director of operations. … This was Crane’s second year as honorary co-chair of the walk. He is also on the organization’s board. NAMI works to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness, and also provides education, support and advocacy for people and families affected by mental illness. Crane became an advocate for the mentally ill through his involvement with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a mentally ill musician who provided the inspiration for the book and film, ‘The Soloist,’ by Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez. Crane was director of communications with the Los Angeles Philharmonic when he befriended Ayers and Lopez and became a part of their story.”
Posted June 2, 2010
