Emme Scharmann is the principal cellist in the Stevens Orchestra and is a founding member of the Stevens String Ensemble. She is a 3/5 Mechanical Engineering major, the Vice President of Art Club, and is currently starting a badminton club on campus. She usually spends her downtime knitting, cooking, or crafting. “If I’m not doing any of those things, I’m probably playing Arcadia Quest or watching anime,” she says.
Emme’s musical beginnings took root in the third grade with violin. “It was required that everyone play the violin for music class,” Emme explains. “This opened my eyes to stringed instruments.” The following year, she began playing cello and continued to play throughout middle and high school in the school orchestra and in the Monmouth Conservatory of Music’s orchestra, all while taking private lessons.
“Music is a huge stress relief for me,” Emme states. “After a particularly stressful day of school, I have never doubted the ability of my cello to ground me. There is something so amazing about making something beautiful, and I do that through the cello.”
Over the years, Emme has looked up to Yo-Yo Ma and Mischa Maisky, both incredible cellists, and has grown to appreciate artists like 2Cellos (Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic) and Takenobu who play modern cello music and write original compositions. Emme adds, “I also take inspiration from the musicians around me. Nothing inspires me more than seeing some of my friends putting their heart and soul into [playing] their instruments.”
Music is one of those things you can carry with you throughout your life no matter what. In transitioning to college, it can be challenging to continue playing an instrument. “Continuing to play music at Stevens did not exactly go according to plan.” Emme explains, “I brought my cello to campus and had full intention of continuing in college. It wasn’t until Mia convinced me to pick it [cello] up again that I did.” Emme advises, “Don’t drop it. I know from experience that it can be hard to keep up with practicing. I basically stopped playing cello for 2 years because it was too much for me to juggle with classes [in college]. The best thing you can do, if you are interested in keeping up with your instrument, is [to] join Stevens Orchestra, Band, or any of the smaller groups. Make time for these organizations and they will reinstill your love of music and (hopefully) make you want to practice.”
“If you don’t play an instrument but still want to keep music in your life, then please support your peers and attend the orchestra and band concerts! We love knowing you support our passions and seeing your faces in the audience, [and] if you can’t commit to rehearsals once a week, then see if you can find other people on campus that want to form an ensemble!” Emme exclaims. “More people than you would have ever guessed play instruments or sing at Stevens. All you have to do is ask.” This was how the formation of the Stevens String Ensemble came to be.
Emme revisited her cello roots the summer going into junior year when she was taking classes on campus. Since orchestra was not in session, she, along with Sal Finocchiaro, Mia Hildebrandt, Noah Bolzoni, Yusuf Yapalak, and Jacob Kosowski, formed the Stevens String Ensemble. Emme discloses, “I prefer to play in a chamber group. It’s easier to focus on each instrument’s individual part and the dynamics when playing in a smaller group [compared to orchestra, which is a larger group]. It’s also more exposed. There is a certain rush of energy and nervousness that comes with playing in an ensemble that I don’t tend to find in orchestras.” Moreover, with a smaller ensemble group, there is more freedom with choosing repertoire. That summer, the ensemble played more modern pieces, like “One Summer’s Day” by Joe Hisaishi from the movie Spirited Away and “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richter.
In addition to orchestra and ensemble repertoire, Emme enjoys playing the Bach Cello Suites, “Elegie” by Faure, and music from any of the Studio Ghibli movies. “The music in Studio Ghibli movies [like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro] are whimsical and fun to play. I wish they could be the soundtrack to my life,” she exclaims.
Emme listens to a lot of music, too. “Right now my favorite artists are Nujabes, Manchester Orchestra, Strawberry Girls, Mitski, Sufjan Stevens, Lamp, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Joe Hisaishi.” Emme elaborates, “My taste in music is rooted in classical and instrumental music. I like artists and bands that allow for the musicians and instruments to shine. You will rarely find me listening to pop, or something that was manufactured to be catchy. I grew up loving classic rock and the instrumental breaks that are an integral part of this genre.”
In short, music is everywhere — one just needs to know how to find it and get involved. Emme vocalizes, “We need more music at Stevens! I am so happy to see more and more student-run groups perform on campus (I’m looking at you Floctaves & Stevens String Ensemble!) I think it’s awesome that we have NJSO [college] nights and bench nights in the library thanks to SPAAG. There is so much talent on campus.”
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