Katherine Hatch Graffam

GRAFFAM, Katherine Hatch Katherine Hatch Graffam died peacefully at her home in Falmouth, ME surrounded by her family on Thursday (March 3, 2005). Katherine was a cello teacher and member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra for 60 years. Upon her retirement from the orchestra in 1987, she was named Cellist Emeritus and Honorary Trustee. In 2002, the orchestra's principal cello chair was endowed as the Katherine H. Graffam Chair. Katherine graduated from Deering High School in Portland, ME and studied at Boston University; the American Institute of Music in Auburndale, MA; and attended the Suzuki Institute in Ithaca, NY. She studied cello with several nationally known cellists including Jean Bedetti, principal cellist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Jacobus Landendoen, noted Dutch cellist; and Carl Stockbridge of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She started her advanced cello studies at age 13, in the midst of The Great Depression. Her father was out of work and money was scarce. She came to the attention of Mr. Stockbridge who offered her lessons at greatly reduced cost. Thus began four years of weekly Saturday trips to Boston in her father's aging car. This was before the turnpike and road obstructions were numerous making flat tires a common occurrence. As a result of her start in music, she never charged the going rate for her lessons and often furnished music, strings, and other supplies to students to make music study possible. She began playing with the Portland Symphony in 1927 at the age of 14 and the following year was named principal cellist and was a featured soloist playing the Saint Saens Cello Concerto with the orchestra. Although Mrs. Graffam was active in many facets of music, it was her teaching of hundreds of students throughout her life that brought the greatest joy. She began a 72 year teaching career at the age of 16 with ten students. Many of her students have become professional cellists and music educators and many more have used music as an important avocation. She continued to teach until health issues forced her to stop at the age of 88. In 1935, she married Clinton W. Graffam, a prominent music educator and for 53 years, oboist and assistant conductor of the Portland Symphony, whose father was one of the founders of the orchestra. Together they were involved in many aspects of community music including the founding of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1942, which Clinton conducted for the next 30 years. Katherine was a member of the applied music faculty at the University of Southern Maine, toured the Northeastern United States with the Portland Concert Trio, performed with the Eastern Slopes Festival Orchestra in Conway, NH, and the Maine Opus Orchestra. Surviving are a daughter and a son. Andrea of Mansfield, a cellist for 40 years with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and former Director of the University of Connecticut Community School of the Arts, is currently teaching public school music in Franklin. Allen, of Brunswick, ME, is currently the Music Department Chair and Director of Bands at Mt. Ararat High School, and a professional trumpet player with the Blue Hill Brass Quintet and the Maine Chamber Ensemble. A Funeral Mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. Luke in Portland, ME on Saturday March 5, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Graffam Scholarship Fund, which will be administered by the Fleet/USM Youth Ensembles, and will provide annual scholarship support for promising young musicians. Donations may be sent to: Graffam Scholarship Fund; Bank of America; 251 US Route One; Falmouth, ME 04105. Arrangements made by Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, Portland, ME