Every conversation I have ever had with composer Quincy Hilliard has included heavy doses of laughter. While working on the Midwest preview issue, I called him to talk about his composition teacher and mentor, Jared Spears, who passed away in September. The mission was more somber than usual, but there were still plenty of laughs during the call.
You can read Hilliard’s memories of his composition teacher as part of a tribute to Spears. Before we started, I reminded Hilliard of a story he shared in the magazine about a Midwest Clinic years ago. No matter who you are and what you have accomplished, we have all run into people who seem far too famous to talk to us. Here is what Hilliard remembers from a terrifying day at the convention.
My greatest memory of Midwest was meeting Francis McBeth. His work Masque inspired me to become a composer. My composition teacher, Jared Spears, introduced me to the work and spoke of Francis often in our private lessons. I knew that they were great friends. The first time I ever saw Francis, he was walking down one of the aisles at the convention visiting other booths and talking to people. I decided to stalk him. After about the third aisle, I was afraid that he might see me and think that I was trying to rob him so I stopped. I was so excited that I called home to tell my wife that I saw Mr. McBeth.
She asked, “Did you talk to him?” I said no, he would not have time for me. He is too important. She said, “Why don’t you go up and introduce yourself?” I was so excited that I did not sleep that night. I was planning how I would approach him. Finally, the next day I went up and introduced myself and told him that I was one of Jared Spears’s students. He laughed and said, “I am sorry you did not have a better composition teacher, young man.”
He talked to me for about an hour, and every time I saw him after that, he would come up and talk with me. On one occasion when I was in Arkansas, he invited me to his home and showed me his woodworking workshop and his classic car collection. He was a great composer and an awesome person. I will never forget the talks we had about composers, conductors, and composition.
After hanging up the phone with Quincy Hilliard, I started thinking about all of the amazing people I have met on the convention floor. On my first visit to the Instrumentalist booth as a high school student, I didn’t know what to expect as I walked down to the exhibitor floor at the Hilton. Within the first five minutes, I was shaking hands with Frederick Fennell. He asked to shake hands left-handed because his right hand was worn out from greeting countless directors. With barely enough time to take off my coat, I had already been initiated. I can’t wait to see who is at Midwest this year. We will see you in Chicago.
– James M. Rohner, Publisher
Stop by and see us at Midwest – Booth #806
