Strings Attached, Lipman/Kupchynsky

Strings Attached is a powerful memoir about resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy — an inspiring and poignant tale of how one man transformed his own heartache into a legacy of joy for his students.

Jerry Kupchynsky was known was “Mr. K” — the fierce, Ukrainian-born music teacher who rehearsed them until their fingers almost bled and who made them better than they ever expected to be. Away from the classroom, though, life seemed to conspire against him at every turn. Strings Attached takes you on his remarkable journey, from his childhood in Nazi Germany to his life in America, caring for his disabled wife while raising their two daughters, to his search for his beloved younger daughter after she mysteriously disappeared — a search that lasted seven years.

His unforgettable story is lyrically told in alternating chapters by two childhood friends who reconnected decades later — Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Melanie Kupchynsky, his daughter, and Joanne Lipman, a former student. Heartbreaking yet ultimately triumphant, this book is a testament to the astonishing power of hope and a celebration of the profound impact one person can have on the lives of others.

Joanne Lipman is one of the nation’s most prominent journalists and commentators. She founded and was Editor-in-Chief of the National Magazine Award-winning Condé Nast Portfolio and was deputy managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, where she supervised coverage that earned three Pulitzer Prizes. She advises news and media organizations such as CNN, Yahoo! and New York Public Radio and has appeared as a commentator on CNN, CBS and NBC, among others. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and Newsweek.

Melanie Kupchynsky has been a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for more than twenty years. She began studying violin at the age of four with her father, Jerry “Mr. K” Kupchynsky. Melanie began her professional career with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the direction of John Williams. With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed around the globe under the world’s greatest conductors and with some of the world’s most prominent soloists.

Authors: Joanne Lipman, Melanie Kupchynsky
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Publisher: Hyperion (2014)
ISBN: 9780316408899