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At the end of this year, professor Curvin Farnham will step down from his position as the University of Maine director of bands and from the conductor’s post with symphonic band, a position he has held for 25 years.
Farnham took over the symphonic band in 1985 after a 21-year stint as a high school band director at Brewer High School and Hampden Academy. In 1986, he recieved a full-time position with the university, and in the summer of 1992, he became UMaine’s director of bands.
“To a certain extent I speak for all the bands,” Farnham said, describing his job as bands director. “I work with whoever is directing the other bands to make sure that things are going for them and for the students, the way they should.” Aside from symphonic band, the university has marching, concert and pep bands, all directed by Christopher White, director of sports bands.
Farnham teaches several courses in the music department, including graduate courses in musical literature and techniques, and undergraduate courses in instrumental conducting.
The director is beginning a phased retirement, a plan in which the instructor has up to three years to gradually reduce his workload. Next year, Farnham will reduce his workload by approximately 25 percent, dropping his roles with the bands to focus on teaching. By ceasing to direct the symphonic band, Farnham will be dropping his single largest time commitment at the university.
“I believe that Mr. White is going to take over the band,” Farnham said. “I’m very excited about that. The students are going to have a wonderful opportunity with him. They’re going to have a great time.”
Farnham will continue to teach classes in the music department next year.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ll be able to devote time to that and focus on it.”
“It’s been very satisfying for me to watch, year to year, the growth of the symphonic band musically,” Farnham said. “Students have been more than willing to work hard. They’ve always been more than willing to give their best to the group.”
Farnham said his 15-year career with the bands has been rewarding, but that he’s looking forward to doing other things, like spending time with his family.
“I’ve got five grandchildren that I’d like to be able to spend time with,” Farnham said. “There’s a lot of stuff I want to do.”
