Member Name:

Debbie Kummer

Year Joined Community Band:

I started when the group began, played for a year or so, then took about 10 years off.  I returned after that, and have been playing ever since.

Spouse / Sig Other, Children:

Husband - Peter  Children - Joseph married to Shelley, Daisy and Steven  Grandchildren - Maylen and Aaron

Work / Profession (if retired, former):

Registered Nurse

Personal Pursuits:

(such as: sports/recreation, volunteer work, hobbies, crafts, family activities, special accomplishments)
 

I love horseback riding....started learning to do that when I was 45, and haven't looked back.

Music Background:

(such as: your start, experience, education, mentor, inspiration, interesting or humorous personal story, accomplishments)

I started playing the clarinet in elementary school, but didn't take private lessons until I was a sophomore in high school.  I was totally inspired by my high school band director, Jim Wayne, and the experience there was wonderful.  My first clarinet teacher was Aldo Simonelli, who was the 2nd clarinet/bass clarinet player for the New York City Opera Company.  He was tough, but I always felt that he cared.   In college, I studied privately with Paul Drushler for about 2 years, and have studied off and on since then with various other teachers. I was never a music major, or anything like that, in college, but music was always part of my life during those years, and since then.  In fact, I met Peter through being involved in my high school band.  He was playing 1st clarinet, and I was playing 3rd or 2nd clarinet.  Anyway, he sat in front of me, and didn't even notice I was alive.  My high school cafeteria was not the safest place to be, so I would have lunch in the band room, and study for my next class.  One day, Peter showed up.  He had been gambling in the cafeteria, and didn't have any more spare change.  After that day, he continued to show up in the band room during my lunch time and help me to study for my next class.  Soon we were dating.
 

Other Bands Play(ed) With:

Right now, in addition to the HFCCB, I play bass clarinet for the Penfield Orchestra.  I have also substituted on clarinet or bass clarinet for other community orchestras in the area, such as the Brighton Symphony and the Finger Lakes Symphony.
 

What you most enjoy, or find especially fulfilling, about being a part of Community Band:

There are several things that are most fulfilling about being a member of the Community Band.  I love that we are like a big huge extended family.  People really do care about each other.  I so look forward to our rehearsals.  Just making music with other enthusiastic musicians is a wonderful experience for me each week.  Being the section leader is an enormous challenge for me, and I feel that I have grown as a musician and a clarinetist in that role, yet I also feel I have so much to learn.  I really do appreciate that others in the community are so willing to give of themselves in this way and come and play each week.
 

Of the music we play, is there a type or piece that is your favorite:

My favorite type of band music is the British wind band music.  I also love Sousa marches.