DIVERSE COALITION OF CHICAGO LEADERS AND FANS OF RENOWN BLACK PIANIST TO COALESCE THEIR TALENTS AND NETWORKS IN HOPE OF FINDING A KIDNEY DONOR

YVONNE W. HUNTLEY. Photo provided by STH Media
YVONNE W. HUNTLEY. Photo provided by STH Media

DIVERSE COALITION OF CHICAGO LEADERS AND FANS OF RENOWN BLACK PIANIST TO COALESCE THEIR TALENTS AND NETWORKS IN HOPE OF FINDING A KIDNEY DONOR

 

ELECTED OFFICIALS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS STEP UP TO ASSIST POPULAR MUSIC LEGEND IN DIRE NEED OF AN ORGAN DONATION

 

KEEP YVONNE HUNTLEY’S MUSIC ALIVE: “A LEGACY IN NEED OF A LIFE”

 

YVONNE W. HUNTLEY—”EVEN AT 88 YEARS OF AGE, 

 I HAVE SO MUCH MUSIC YET TO GIVE TO MUSIC LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD”

(Chicago, Il) Government officials, Medical Professionals, Civic and Community leaders are gathering themselves to advocate for a woman of distinction, selflessness, and a music legend in a kickoff of a nationwide public relations campaign. Yvonne W. Huntley, considered by many as one of the nation’s top pianists, is now in the fight of her life as she seeks a kidney that will allow her to continue her remarkable life of providing beautiful music. Her current kidneys are functioning at an alarmingly low rate.

Yvonne, who resides in Chicago's Lake Meadows community, is an amazing 88-year-old classical pianist and still has more work to do in her community. She continues to have the desire and drive to share her love for music with others and make a difference in her community. However, her health is a concern, notably her kidneys. Her kidney transplant team at The University of Chicago has examined her and she is ready to undergo kidney transplant procedures. She is resilient and ready, with an everyday focus on keeping her physical strength in the best condition she can. She has been a role model in the music community for decades. She continues to be a ray of sunshine and hope to our next generation of classical music pianists. A donor’s gift of life ensures that Yvonne’s music can  continue to uplift generations.

 

With a love for music, Yvonne began taking piano lessons at the early age of 5 in Harlem, NY. From there to around the age of 14, her teacher was so inspired by her musical abilities, excellence, and wanting to help others instill a love for music, that she employed Yvonne as her teaching assistant. Years later, after earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, Yvonne married and began instructing a few students in her private studio in Washington, DC.  From there, she traveled with her husband to New York and continued her work as a music educator in the New York Public Schools. As life advanced, she and her family moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she continued her business as a piano instructor in her private studio, as well as earning her Master of Arts degree in musicology from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. During this time, she also joined the teaching faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, where she actively instructed students of all ages for over 20 years. While in Milwaukee, she became active in the various professional music organizations that continued to fuel her love for music and strengthened her as an exceptional music educator. 

 

Her teaching experience also encompasses work at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Community Music School as well as her latest employment of 19 years at Sherwood Community Arts School as part of Columbia College here in the City of Chicago. While her health has made it challenging to continue working at the school, the desire and passion remain. In all these organizations, she instructed students with varying skill sets and shared her passion for music with them all. To have her students strive for the best and instill a love of music for themselves, she encouraged and prepared many of them to compete at local and national piano competitions, many of which she then went on to serve as a judge herself.

 

Given her strong subject matter knowledge of music and of course her passion, Yvonne was asked by many institutions of higher learning to serve on their faculties as an adjunct professor. Thus, she taught at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Cardinal Stritch University, and Milwaukee Area Technical Colleges, respectively.

 

Ms. Huntley is also receiving support from Jack Lynch, considered by many as the utmost advocate of transplant medicine. Mr. Lynch is commonly known for developing and maintaining communications that promote organ and tissue donation within selected community groups and hospitals.

“There could be no better scenario in promoting organ donations than to advocate for people who are yet challenged in hopes of receiving a kidney. Ms. Huntley represents thousands of patients who are at the mercy of the public in offering themselves for testing. She has been in this fight for some time. While it may appear that time is not on her side, we are yet hopeful that a loving person will come forth and clear testing.” says Mr. Jack Lynch.

“Ms. Huntley has been a true pillar of support for so many lovers of classical music throughout the nation. Particularly for women of color. She has much to do with the upward mobility of the African American experience as anyone. We are banding together in her fight for life, but also to bring awareness to the entire benefit of organ donations. In addition, our hope is to educate the public concerning the challenges that many African Americans face when in need of an organ donation. “says Rich Township Supervisor and Democratic Committeeman Calvin Jordan.

Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin adds, “Ms. Huntley is such a Stallworth in the classical music industry and has been steadfast in her advocacy for women. She has given so much of her time and energy in the promotion of classical music. It is now due time that we stand with her, fight with her and win with her!”

Another public official who has shown unlimited support to Ms. Huntley is Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill. “We have all been inspired by Lady Huntley’s demeanor and her firm focus to win this fight. Its because of her spirit that we all have coalesce our talents, energy, and efforts to not only win for her, but to show others like her that they cannot win this battle alone.” says Commissioner McCaskill.

Yvonne Huntley is also receiving support from Jack Lynch, considered by many as the utmost advocate of transplant medicine. Mr. Lynch is commonly known for developing and maintaining communications that promote organ and tissue donation within selected community groups and hospitals.

Jack Lynch concludes, “Yvonne Huntley is an extraordinary woman with an enormous zest for life. I am so proud of her ability to be transparent through this process. Moreover, I am impressed that she is not alone in this fight. The caliber of support she has received will be a key factor in overcoming this challenge. But it's also a reminder that particularly for African Americans, timing is critical in managing kidney disease.”

The collective body of professionals, community leaders and advocates will stress the importance of organ donations as well as the most recent National Kidney Month. They are urging Illinois residents to join their coalition in continuing the fight to get citizens to engage themselves with the organ donation process.

The mass group of notables is urging the public who may want to be tested or to get involved with Yvonne Huntley’s fight for life, to email their information to shwspeaks@gmail.com

 

CALL TO ACTION:  

 

Yvonne Huntley has spent her life teaching music in New York, Milwaukee, and Chicago’s adults and children and performing for the world. Now, she needs a kidney donor to continue her legacy. If you or someone you know is interested in learning about donation, contact her transplant team today. Together, we can ensure her music never stops.” 


This campaign leverages Yvonne’s profound impact on music education, her ties to Black cultural institutions, and Chicago’s vibrant arts community to find a donor. By celebrating her resilience and artistry, it transforms a medical need into a collective mission to honor a living legend.


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