Jacques Torres, known as "Mr. Chocolate," is one of the world's most celebrated pastry chefs. In 1986, Mr. Torres became the youngest chef ever awarded the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF).

San Francisco, April 21, 2011 -- On April 12 and 13, Oberlin Dance Company and ODC Theater's dynamic founder Brenda Way hosted a two-day symposium titled "Women Who Frame the World: A Symposium on Creativity."

In a candid conversation with Notes on The Road, Astrid Baumgardner shares her own remarkable transition-following a near-death 36-hour coma-from Lawyer to Life Coach, now guiding others through their own life transitions and developments.

Throughout her extensive career as a fundraiser with organizations such as the American Museum of Natural History in New York, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Children's Museum, and the Museum of Science in Boston, Judi Cantor has raised over $100 Million.

"I'm interested in trying to be an example."

-Dr. Eric Chivian

"If you're an artist, the whole thing is: Are you remaining in love with your art?"

- David Dubal

A portrait of an artist as a young public servant, Andrew Russo is a seemingly singular figure in American politics today.

As President of The Juilliard School, Dr. Joseph Polisi is a twenty-first century visionary poised at the helm of a world-renowned performing arts institution; he is a fierce proponent of the arts, an author, a teacher, and a performer.

At seven years old, Kerry Olson was organizing fundraiser fairs in her backyard for humanitarian organizations complete with ring tosses and stuffed animal prizes. Today, she's the vibrant, passionate founder of Firelight Foundation, an organization based in Santa Cruz, California supporting children and communities impacted by HIV/AIDS and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

"If you can channel the best part of you that is bigger than yourself where it’s not about your ego and not about getting ahead, then you can have fun and you aren’t jealous of others.  You see other people's talent as another branch of your own.  You can keep it rooted in joy...Life is long and there are plenty of opportunities to make mistakes.  The point of it all is to learn."

-Ethan Hawke

As players all over the globe will readily attest, the lifeblood of a professional orchestral musician does not always flow as freely as the iconic music it stands to serve.

"Creditors" award-winning actor, Tom Liam Benedict Burke, is taking American theatre-goers by storm. In a mere 90 minutes, this young artist managed to carve out a performance which will surely be remembered for years to come...

At SABON, you are at once immersed in a deliciously fragrant sensory frenzy encased within the walls of an urban oasis:

April 29th, 2010. Los Angeles, CA. Smoldering, unpretentious, refreshingly quick-witted and down-to-earth - actress Lynn Chen will be back to grace the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on May 1st in Quentin Lee's romantic comedy "The People I've Slept With," which has sold out theaters in screenings across the country.

Once in a generation, there emerges a sportsman who seems to change the face of his sport. Soccer: Péle; Boxing: Muhammad Ali; Tennis: Boris Becker; Golf: Tiger Woods; Pool......

Every so often, you meet someone who, in even just a short time, manages to change your life forever; someone possessed of such charisma and vibrancy, you come away from the experience with creativity ablaze, hopes renewed, confidence restored and idealism reborn.

Notes On The Road recently had a rare and fortuitous opportunity to chat with lyric soprano Amy Burton, a star of the operatic scene and member of the esteemed voice faculty at Mannes College.