Cellist Ben Whitcomb, who will be performing on Hillsdale’s campus this week, is an experienced and well-traveled cellist who has performed in countries all around the world. His musical story began, however, with an instrument shortage and an alphabetical curse.
“I was in the 5th grade, and I really wanted to play violin,” Whitcomb said. “But, if you’ve ever noticed, when people go through the alphabet, they tend to go from front to back. Well, that never works out too well for me. By the time they got to ‘Whitcomb’ they ran out of violins! But they did have a cello.”
Though the young musician’s career was off to a bumpy start, he quickly discovered that his instrument had its own merits, and decided to stick with it.
“Sticking with it” ended up leading Whitcomb to Oklahoma State University for his undergraduate degree in cello performance. From there he began his masters degree in cello performance at Boston University and completed it at University of Texas, Austin, where he also received his doctoral degree in music theory.
Whitcomb was quickly hired by University of Wisconsin –– Whitewater, and has taught various performance and music theory classes there for the past 14 years.
Whitcomb will be performing in a trio setting on Hillsdale’s campus Thursday evening at 8 p.m. in Markel Auditorium.
The trio is composed of Whitcomb on the cello, musician Myung-Hee Chung on the piano, and musician Leanne League on the violin.
Whitcomb described the pieces the trio will perform in light and affectionate terms.
“[The program is] built around this enormous piece by Tchaikovsky: his one piano trio. That is the centerpiece,” he said. “Then around that we fill out the program with a late Haydn piano trio to begin it: a really friendly and clever piano trio. Then, for contrast, we end with a Piazzolla tango.”
Whitcomb said he performs frequently and it is a central part of his life.
“I love to perform. On average it’s between 25-30 performances a year in various capacities. I’ve performed in Korea, Puerto Rico, Australia, Ireland, Mexico –– and I’m sure I’m forgetting some.”
Whitcomb was invited to come to Hillsdale by Professor of Music Melissa Knecht, who visited Whitcomb’s university in September of last year to perform for students there.
Knecht called the process of visiting other universities to share music “essential,” saying that it “helps the students experience music from outside sources and it helps us grow as professionals.”
Knecht has worked with Whitcomb through the American Association of String Teachers and describes him as a dedicated educator.
“[Whitcomb] has been very active in the association, and was the president of the Wisconsin chapter in the past,” she said. “He and I have worked on committees at the national level in the past, and I am very excited that he is going to be able to visit Hillsdale.”
Whitcomb believes that concerts like the one he will be performing at Hillsdale present an opportunity for “musicians and non-musicians alike.” He said that students should put away any preconceptions.
“Get past the trappings of classical music: long haired and boring, and actually try going to a live chamber music concert. Even if [you have] heard recordings, the chemistry at a live concert is very different. “
Whitcomb said that chemistry was conversational
“The music is alive,” he said. “Even we [the musicians] don’t know ourselves quite how it will be played. It’s a living thing.”
Whitcomb challenges all students to come with an open mind and be ready to fall in love with something that “can’t be experienced through a recording or by downloading an MP3.”
Whitcomb searched for words to encapsulate difference, and began, “No matter how good your speakers are, when you are surrounded by the music live…” He finds himself at a loss for words and trails off. After a short pause, he slowly concludes, “It’s something I want to dare all the students to try.”
slichti@hillsdale.edu
