Professor of cello leaves musical legacy

On a cold Friday morning in mid-March, University of Memphis music professor Peter Spurbeck handed in his official retirement forms, ending a 34-year-long teaching career and leaving behind an enduring musical legacy at The U of M.

“It’s a little strange,” Spurbeck said when he finished filling out the final retirement paperwork. “You start to realize that the end is coming near and there’s no turning back. But it all goes with the situation, and I think it is time for me to step down.”

Spurbeck began his musical career at the age of eight. By the age of 13, the cellist said he became more dedicated to the instrument. Spurbeck admitted a lot of his musical motivation as a child came from his parents. His father was a violinist who taught at a New York university, and his mother was a music teacher.

“With my father being a violinist, there was always fine string music playing for me to listen to,” Spurbeck said. “And while living in a college town, there were always guests coming in to play. So I had a chance to hear some of the finest string players in the world.”

With motivation from his parents and teachers, Spurbeck eventually landed at Indiana University, one of the best music schools at the time.

After graduating, Spurbeck accepted his first teaching job at Northern Illinois. Shortly after, he transferred to another teaching job in Southern Illinois University. After six years of teaching at Southern Illinois, Spurbeck moved to Memphis in 1968.

Instead of teaching, as he had the previous seven years, Spurbeck was given the opportunity to help make recordings for music legends such as Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes and Al Green.

“American Studios was recording some of the greatest artists in the world, and they needed people to come in and lay down some string tracks,” Spurbeck said. “I was fortunate enough to be one of the string players.”

Although Spurbeck said he was lucky enough to help record with some of music’s greatest, one of his greatest experiences was playing the cello for Pablo Casals, one of the musicians he looked up to most.

“When Casals came to conduct the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, I had a chance to play the cello for him,” Spurbeck said. “I played for two and a half hours and he said some wonderful things about my playing.”

Eventually, Spurbeck obtained another teaching job, this time at The U of M. He said he was given the opportunity to teach, along with the principal chair and the first chair position in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Spurbeck said the combination of teaching and performing was perfect for him.

Also, during his tenure at The U of M, Spurbeck managed to bring talented musicians such as Yo Yo Ma, one of Spurbeck’s favorite cellists, to The University. During his visit, Spurbeck asked Ma to perform for his master class.

This past Monday, Spurbeck was honored by former students and colleagues as The University Symphony Orchestra played the music piece “The Three Kings,” one of his favorite pieces by Casals.

Pu-Qi Jiang, the conductor of last Monday’s event, is a witness to Spurbeck’s contribution and impact to the university’s music program.

“He has taught so many students, and taught them well,” Jiang said. “He created music for students, inspired them and filled them with energy. This concert showed our appreciation for his contribution.”

Although Spurbeck is stepping down from his position at The U of M, he said he will continue teach younger students and possibly teach near his home.

“I love teaching very much and I will always be grateful for the opportunity given here,” Spurbeck said. “I taught some of the finest cello students anywhere, and this will live with me forever.”