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We Reunited A Musician With The High School Teacher Who Introduced Her To Patti Smith's Music

When Solvej Schou was in high school, she was grieving the death of her mother. She said her high school AP English teacher, Barry Smolin, helped her "to channel trauma and pain into cathartic art — and not be afraid."
When Solvej Schou was in high school, she was grieving the death of her mother. She said her high school AP English teacher, Barry Smolin, helped her "to channel trauma and pain into cathartic art — and not be afraid."
(
Jessica Flores/KPCC
)

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We Reunited A Musician With The High School Teacher Who Introduced Her To Patti Smith's Music
When Solvej Schou was a senior at LAUSD’s Hamilton High in the mid-1990s, she wrote poetry and played music in the quad.

When Solvej Schou was a senior at LAUSD’s Hamilton High in the mid-1990s, she wrote poetry and played music in the quad.  

Now, she’s a writer and a musician. She just released a new album this month, called "Quiet For Too Long." She says her AP English teacher, Barry Smolin, was a big influence on her. 

We reunited them, here at KPCC. Here's what they said to each other.

https://twitter.com/Solvej_Schou/status/1143924889398603777

 

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This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov .

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