News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech’s Cumberland Quintet celebrates its 50th anniversary season with a special performance Wednesday night.
The ensemble consists of faculty members that all teach their respected instrument in the school of music. Flutist Dr. Mary Matthews said the performance will be a celebration of the past, present and future.
“We just really feel the excitement and the honor and the history of the positions that we are filling and are just so thrilled to be able to give that nod to the past but also put our own modern spin on it with these brand new pieces for the ensemble,” Matthews said.
It will include three world-premieres commissioned just for this occasion, pieces first performed several decades ago by the ensemble and recent compositions created by Tennessee Tech alumni.
“One piece that was written for the quintet several years ago by Dr. Greg Danner who is our composition professor and also the horn player in our quintet, and then a new piece that was premiered in 2018,” Matthews said.
The faculty group formed in 1972 as an opportunity for outreach in the community. Matthews said as teachers retire, faculty replacements take a seat in the quintet.
“The ensemble historically we play in high school, middle schools, elementary schools, libraries, community center and churches,” Matthews said. “It’s a wonderful chance to be ambassadors for music and for our music program here at Tennessee Tech.”
The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Wattenbarger Auditorium in the Bryan Fine Arts Building. The Cumberland Quintet, comprised of Matthews, oboist Dr. Michael Adduci, clarinetist Dr. Mark J. Cramer, bassoonist Dr. Jeff Womack and hornist Dr. Greg Danner will present a program of five works.
