Spotlight: James Cheek A Dedicated Community Servant
Since joining the Spartanburg Philharmonic Board of Directors in 2017, Mr. Cheek has generously given of his time and talent in support of the Philharmonic’s imperative to be a more diverse and inclusive organization. Mr. Cheek is no stranger to this type of work, having long served his Spartanburg community for decades; first as a voice for civil rights amid segregation, now as a public defender. All in pursuit of one goal - to uplift his community and find ways to be stronger together. Whether he is bringing flowers for each Youth Orchestra musician to celebrate their inaugural concert or recommending enhancements to our Ludwig concert program, Mr. Cheek’s contributions to the Spartanburg Philharmonic have been invaluable. We are truly grateful for his leadership and the personal time he invests in strengthening the organization. Now, we invite you to get to know more about this truly great man, in his own words.
Q: As a student, you were a member of the Wofford College Glee Club. Today, in addition to being a board member and donor, you subscribe to several of our series. As someone that clearly appreciates a variety of music, what do you most love about it? 16
A: The emotive aspect of music and the wide range of
venues in which I can find relief and reassurance beyond distractive entertainment is my love affair with music. So, whether secular or spiritual, gospel to hymnal, classical to country, bluegrass or urban, a moment of exposure to the right song at that moment aurally impacts my spirit; lifting and soaring or conversely lulling and comforting as the experience refines rather than defines my situation. The universality of music is what most listeners and I appreciate even without realizing that in every piece, there will be a message though the individual is at that time unaware of the import and impact.
Q: Of all the Spartanburg Philharmonic concerts you’ve attended, which has been the most memorable for you?
A: Ludwig: Heroes and Revolution because of the
music’s cultural demonstration of the timeless and seamless aspect and character of music spanning over generations and centuries stretching beyond geographical boundaries. As a child at Mary Wright School, we were taught of Beethoven’s racial identity and his contemporaries; that music reached beyond
