Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-24
the Symphony
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD


He must for example, be a musician, a diplomat.
executive and, at times. nursemaid. For upon his
shoulders rests the responsibility for
orchestra
Such a man Is Eddie Gummel the new personnel
director Of the National Symphony Orchestra. native
Of Washington who occupies the bass trombone chair in
the orchestra Mr. Gummers experiences fit him admir-
ably for his post
He is, first of all, superb musician Although not
from musical family-his father and grandfather
contractors and paved many Of Washingtons streets
he took to music before he in his teens.
He studied first with an uncle who played first
trumpet for in the Marine Band. and later he
persuaded to transfer from Central to Mckinley High
School to play with Dorre Walton. who director Of
the Tech orchestra.
Then followed a time spent playing with orchestras
In local theaters and six-year enlistment with the
Marine Band during which he studied week ends
with Mario Falone first trombonst with the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra and later with Edward Gerhard
of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Mr.. Gummel joined the National Symphony when 1t
organized under DR.. Hans Kinder In 1884, and has
been with the group except for tour Of duty with the
Red Cross during World War II, since. He is the
only member Of the orchestra who has been with it since
1t was founded.
The bass trombone is a solo instrument. The chair
ranks with that of first trombonist.
As an executive, Mr.. Gummel has been well tried
Back in the early days Of the orchestra when musicians
than they now he recalls it sometimes
necessary combine music with other
Mr.. Gummel became bacterologist. He studied at
George Washington Catholic and Maryland Universities
and worked for time with DR.. Mark p Schultz at the
National Institutes OF Health doing research In rheumatic
heart disease of children He later established bac
THEOLOGICAL laboratory in Silver Spring and served
president the Maryland Association Medical and
Public Health Laboratories.
At the beginning Of World War II, Mr.. Gummel con-
tinued his executive training with the Red Cross He
served in New Guinea and Australia director Of welfare
and inquiries services with Gen. Douglas MacArthurS
headquarters and later In this country assistant to
Richard Allen vice chairman Of nsular and foreign
operations returned the Symphony after the
at the request OF DR.. Kinder.
The orchestra will leave Friday a southern tour,
with concerts scheduled 81 cities And last December
the orchestra played Is concerts in northern cities All
arrangements for these out-oftown concerts including
reservations for orchestra members stage arrangements
and other provisions for the orchestra must be handled
by Mr. Gummel This In addition to salaries. liason'
between the orchestra and the musicians union and act
ing special guardian to the conductor, Dr. Howard
Mitchell. And to make matters more complicated, mu-
sicians known to be temperamental people.
But with all this, Mr.. Gummel finds time for his
family. He and Mrs Gumme the former Martha LOT
strand, live at 1915 lockwood road Silver Spring. A
married daughter lives In South Carolina A son Is
artist illustrator with the Naval Ordnance Laboratory
at White Oak, Nd and another son. H. may stl grow
into a musician.
When does he find time to practice? Il would rather
not olk oho that he In whn I can"