By Helen Spielman
Adam Cutchin came to me for flute lessons as a gawky 12 year old. Brilliant, motivated, and immensely musically talented, he could memorize entire concerti within one or two weeks. Until he graduated from high school, he borrowed most of the 200 flute recordings I owned, always sharing a wise, interesting opinion about the flutist’s playing. Adam attended the NFA convention with me in Nashville (2004) and purchased a beautiful Miyazawa flute through Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company. He began college as a flute major at the University of Illinois as a student of Jonathan Keeble but switched to French at the end of his freshman year. Now age 27, he is near completing his doctorate in French at the University of Pennsylvania. During the grueling years of graduate school, Adam still thought the best way to sneak in some fun was to buy a student ticket to the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. For a year, he was principal flute of the university orchestra. Whenever he had a vacation, he still noodled around on his beloved instrument.
Unlike most students, Adam stayed in touch with me through the years, his loving nature, his loyal and steadfast presence in my life developing into the mature friendship we have today. Two years ago, I visited Adam and his partner Ralph in Philadelphia. Ralph, a gentle, sweet soul and an award winning book designer, is a wonderful man whom I have come to love as much as Adam. Sitting in their living room, they asked me to officiate at their wedding. I can hardly express in words the energy that flew through my body: shock, honor, humility, and profound love. I am not clergy or licensed to marry anyone. Adam and Ralph got legally married in court. But they wanted me to marry them at their spiritual ceremony in front of their friends and family.
On October 25, 2014, a warm, sunny perfect autumn day, their loved ones gathered in the back yard at Ralph’s parents’ home north of Philadelphia. The processional music they chose was the recording of Moon River by Goran Marcusson, a colleague of mine at Wildacres Flute Retreat. Adam, Ralph and I stood on an arched bridge, and they cried as they spoke their beautiful vows to each other. My heart expanded with so much love as I marveled at this miracle: that a little boy would come to my flute studio 15 years ago, and that I would be asked by these two precious men to serve as the humble bridge as they make their lifetime commitment.
It is one of the most profound honors and loving gifts I have ever been given. Living in the world of music is magical beyond imagination.