Director of the Hartt School of Music orchestras Edward Cumming was recently hosted as a guest speaker in the Music Department on October 24. Music Department Chair Leslie Imse invited Cumming to speak to the String Ensemble students about careers in music.

“As Department Leader, I try and make connections with people in the professional world to benefit our students and our teachers. We have a great strings program, and it’d be good for students to hear from a college professor,” Imse said.

Imse invited Cumming to both speak to and do clinic work, in which he would work with the String Ensemble. Cumming has extensive experience in the field of music beyond his work with the Hartford Symphony including work with the Pittsburgh Symphony and his current position at the Hartt School of Music.

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MJ Martinez

Playing a tune-- Director of the Hartt School of Music orchestras Edward Cumming leads students in “Symphony Number 8 in G Major” by Antonin Dvorak. Cumming was recently hosted as a guest speaker in the Music Department on October 24 to speak to the String Ensemble students about careers in music.

Imse believes it is important for students to see how careers in music are possible and to improve their skills through Cumming’s visit.

“The stresses of life go away when you are making music and you are enjoying yourself. You’re connecting your soul with beauty, and I think that’s one reason students are enthusiastic about music,” Imse said.

Cumming accepted Imse’s invitation in hope that he could inspire high school students to continue in the field of music.

“Any pursuit in the arts is a very difficult and challenging path. You have to want it really bad. Find something you love to do, then figure out how to get paid for it,” Cumming said.

Cumming’s visit consisted mainly of hands on work with the Strings Ensemble. The group worked on a piece entitled, “Symphony Number 8 in G Major” by Antonin Dvorak. Cumming emphasized the importance of infusing Dvorak’s Czech culture into the piece.

“He was really helpful and he taught me a lot, and I learned the way he taught us to interpret the Czech feel of Devorak,” senior violinist Mary Messier said.

In addition to the students, music teacher Katie Carlson found the experience to be very beneficial.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for my students. It gives them a totally different perspective about the music which completely changes their style of playing,” Carlson said.

After his visit with the Strings Ensemble, Imse accompanied Cumming to Irving A. Robbins Middle School and West Woods Upper Elementary School to make his visit to the district as impactful as possible.

“Mr. Cumming was an absolute inspiration. You could feel his experience resonate throughout. He might have opened a career in music for me,” senior violinist Haik Semerjdian said.

Beyond this experience, Imse is continuing to incorporate professional visits into the Music Department. Chorus students will take part in a similar event involving a professional guest speaker on November 2.