Timothy Garrett, senior music performance major, is a so-called late bloomer. Not until he was into his teens did he begin studying the cello. Eight years later, those closest to Garrett’s playing assert he is a talented individual who has made tremendous strides in his musical endeavors. “It’s been a game of catch-up the whole way,” said Garrett.
Despite his late start, Garrett was one of only 10 students chosen to perform in this year’s Honors recital. The Honors recital has been a tradition in the School of Music for 26 years and is the highest respect paid to a student. In order to be included for consideration, students must be nominated by their individual teachers. This year approximately 40 out of the 200 music majors auditioned, with 10 receiving an invitation to perform.
“Everyone chosen for Honors is extremely talented,” said J. Mark Scearce, assistant professor of music and also one of this year’s judges. Everyone seems to agree that Garrett, one of only four cellists in the school, has talent on his side. William Rounds, adjunct professor of music and Garrett’s instructor of four years, said Garrett’s late start has presented interesting dilemmas for him as a teacher and that instructing Garrett has been an interesting and rewarding challenge. “He’s done a lot of leapfrogging.”
Garrett’s talents sprung from a musical background. He began studying piano with his mother at a young age and then acquired an interest in composing. Although he won a few contests as a young composer, he chose to pursue the cello and performance.
Robert Lehmann, assistant professor of music and the director of string studies, worked with Garrett for two years and said that the general belief that successful musicians must begin their studies at an extremely young age is not always the case. “Sometimes you get music in your ear and than you shop around for a vehicle,” Lehmann said.
It seems that nearly every facet of Garrett’s life is composed of music. During the school year, he performs with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra as principal cellist as well as giving cello lessons to aspiring musicians. When summer overtakes spring, he attends the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival.
The Bowdoin festival draws talented musicians from not only the nation but also the world. As the only student chosen from Maine to participate, he also sits on the festival’s board of trustees as the student representative. The Bowdoin festival is a place where he can compare his progress to those of his peers and where his musical skills are challenged. “To become a better musician you have to play with people who are better than you,” Garrett said.
Although Garrett has come a long way in his eight years of study, he still has work to do and admits to having bad days just like anybody else. In describing different areas of Corthell Hall, which houses the School of Music, Garrett talked about “ego rooms.” These are rooms with acoustics that disguise playing flaws and make your playing appear stronger than it might be. “Sometimes you need an ego room, because you’re down on yourself,” said Garrett.
Lehmann describes Garrett as a talented and hard-working individual and said his progress is remarkable but admits that music is a challenging and competitive field. He compares succeeding as a musician to a flower blooming in the desert. “Only the heartiest survive.”
Rounds, whose beliefs about the music world align closely with Lehmann’s, said he is interested to see where Garrett’s interests and commitments take him. “There’s absolutely a place for him in the professional music world,” Rounds said.
For now, Garrett is focusing on completing his final year of study and looking forward to the Bowdoin music festival. He’s excited to perform for his second year in the Honors recital. “Being chosen for Honors means that I play at a level at least as high as everyone else.”