CELLIST MAXINE NEUMAN NEEDS OUR HELP

Three-time Grammy Winner Maxine Neuman – internationally renowned cellist, chamber performer and educator – tragically is facing the final stages of her long battle with cancer. Now, making the situation even more heartbreaking, her husband Reinhard Humburg was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. With his ongoing treatment, Reinhard can no longer continue being Maxine's sole caretaker, as he has been these past years.

For decades, Maxine has helped countless people of all ages through her love of music. Now it is Maxine and her family who need our help.

As we all know, medical and home health care costs are astronomical. In addition, her ability to earn a living has been compromised. Maxine and her family are facing financial hardship and have agreed to let us share their story. They would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can offer. Please donate as much as you can.

AN EXTRAORDINARY MUSICIAN

A recipient of grants from the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts, cellist Maxine Neuman has shared her extraordinary musical gifts with the world through her performances, recordings, teaching, and coaching chamber music.

Her solo and chamber music career spans North America, South America, Europe, and Japan. She appeared as soloist before a sold-out audience in New York’s Town Hall in the American premiere of Giovanni Battista Viotti’s only cello concerto. Her extensive recording credits include a performance (on Deutsche Astrophon) of the Schumann cello concerto in Count Esterhazy’s historic palace in Austria.

Neuman is a founding member of the Claremont Duo, the Crescent String Quartet, the Vermont Cello Quartet, Breve, and the Walden Trio. She has been heard in such diverse settings as Ron Carter’s 4+4, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the films of Jim Jarmusch, and the rock band Metallica. A three-time Grammy Award winner, her biography appears in Who’s Who in the World.

Maxine has expanded the chamber ensemble repertoire – especially for multiple celli and cello & guitar – by arranging and transcribing works from every period. A longtime champion of contemporary music, she has commissioned and premiered works by many of today’s leading composers.

A distinguished teacher and performer, Neuman has served as a juror for numerous international competitions. She has been on the faculty of New York’s School for Strings since 1995 and at Hoff-Barthelson Music School since 2002. In addition, she has taught at Bennington College, Williams College, and C.W. Post University.

Her long list of recording credits includes Deutsche Grammophone, Columbia, Angel, EMI, Nonesuch, Biddulph, CRI, Orion, Leonarda, Argo, Opus One, SONY/Virgin, AMC, Artek, Vanguard, Musical Heritage, Albany, Northeastern and CBS World Records.

MAXINE AND THE CMC AT BENNINGTON (NOW AT COLGATE)

Many musicians know Maxine from the Chamber Music Conference (CMC) at Bennington College in Vermont, where she first started coaching and performing in 1983. There, on top of an already demanding schedule, she began working with the children of the Conference. For 27 summers, she lovingly devoted many volunteer hours to writing, arranging, and transcribing music for whatever combination of instruments the kids happened to play. After daily rehearsals, she organized delightful end-of-week concerts for the whole community to enjoy.

As a result, Maxine has profoundly influenced individuals of all ages for many years – these children, the participants she coached and encouraged, and her professional colleagues – as well as the audiences worldwide who have had the privilege of hearing her play. She has had a profound impact on the world of music. We will be forever grateful.

Maxine’s husband, Reinhard Humburg, who is an international lawyer by profession, has also been deeply involved with the CMC for many decades as recording engineer. For over six years, he worked with a dedicated group of volunteers on an historic project to remaster and digitize 76 performances from 1956-2019 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Conference.

Please join us in supporting Maxine and her family through this challenging and painful time.

Thank you,

Alice Berman and Emily Toll

NOTE: Maxine and Reinhard have each authorized us to share these details about their current health situation.