Snow Pond Symphony 2016 Season

Name: Dr. Paul Scimonelli
Years Attended NEMC/Snow Pond:
1964-1969
Program/Major: String Bass and
composition
Cabins You Lived In: Sault, Burnes, and the great Dorm
in the Bowl
Where are you from: Columbia, MD
What brought you to New England Music Camp or
Snow Pond originally? How did you find out about
NEMC?
My Father, Dr. Frank Scimonelli, was the trumpet and
Post Horn soloist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington,
D.C. for 26 years. In his youth, he got to know Dr. Paul
Wiggin, the founder of the camp. Dr. Wiggin invited dad
to come to camp and solo with the symphonic band in
1949, and he continued to do so until the 1990’s. As my
brothers and I got older and progressed musically, we
were also invited to camp. That’s the short story!
What was the biggest lesson you learned at NEMC?
What it took to be a good, professional musician.
What is your fondest memory (crazy, funny,
meaningful) of your time at NEMC?
SO many! Cookouts, banquet, Reid State Park, the
Mud Bowl in ’67, the waterfront, and all the girls I met!
What are you doing now?
I recently retired from my full time position as
Director of Strings at the Landon School in Bethesda,
MD after 16 years. I am playing with several big band jazz
bands, 2 orchestras, and singing with the Thomas Circle
Singers in Washington, DC. Also just finished writing my
first book, a biography of Roy Sievers, former home run
champ of the Washington Senators from 1954 -1959
What are some of the biggest accomplishments
you’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in your
career?
Got to play in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The
Kennedy Center, among many other great venues. Played
for 3 Presidential Galas. Played with Aretha Franklin.
Coolest person you’ve met in your career?
SO many! Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., Red Skelton,
Peggy Lee, The Fifth Dimension, Ron Carter, Buster
Williams, Billy Eckstein, Lynn Anderson, Minnie Pearl,
many other pop, country, and jazz greats, Condoleezza
Rice, Jimmy Carter and other political dignitaries.
26
Paul playing in the 1967 New England Music Camp Jazz Band