The Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra

Paul Farnham, an amateur cellist, is a charter member of the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra, having assisted Dr. Susan Tepping and Mrs. Lynn Farnham in founding the orchestra.

Paul began to play cello in ninth grade after several unsuccessful years attempting to play brass instruments.  He heard an Italian string orchestra in a concert in Schenectady, NY, where he grew up, and said “Why am I wasting my life? I want to play a string instrument!”  Thus, his passion began.  Paul has studied under three phenomenal cellists – Arthur Catricala (of the Schenectady, NY Conservatory of Music), Larry LeMaster (a cellist in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) and most recently Brad Knobel (an Atlanta freelancer and former member and conductor of the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra). 

When Paul was not playing the cello, which was much of the time, he was an economics professor at Georgia State University and a member and lead of the Prevention Modeling and Economics Team, Division of HIV Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  He has recently retired and is now playing cello as often as he wants.  

Lynn has had a love of music since age 9, when she began playing the violin.  She passed that love on music onto her daughters (one who played violin for 16 years, and the other who enjoys listening to music but not playing it).  

Lynn taught music in elementary and middle schools for 15 years before retiring, though she has continued teaching via private lessons to the present.  Retirement hasn’t stopped her from making Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra what she and Susan originally envisioned it to be – a place for everyone of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels to come together and grow talent (while having fun, of course).

Beyond music, Lynn enjoys reading and writing as well as being crafty with yarn and fabrics.  She has traveled to a variety of places with her husband, Paul, and is planning more trips to show off her Spanish speaking skills.

Jean played violin in high school and on and off after college.  She took a 17 year break from playing, staying busy with a job as an epidemiologist and raising 2 children.

Jean joined the Four Seasons orchestra in 2013 as a rusty violin player and appreciated the opportunity to join an orchestra that didn’t require auditions.  Her young adult daughter now also plays cello with the orchestra.

For the last 42 years, Steve has served as an accompanist, choral conductor, and music minister in local area churches, sharing his love of music with congregations throughout the community.  He has been part of the Four Seasons family for 20 years and is in his 5th year of being the conductor.  Steve has written a few pieces for various orchestras, including Four Seasons, as well as rewritten some well-known pieces so that less experienced players can still play with the group.

Steve was a former student of Dr. Susan Tepping at Georgia State University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a masters degree in choral conducting. He taught math and music for 34 years in Metro Atlanta schools and had the honor of seeing two of his students go on to graduate Harvard University.  He is now enjoying a much-deserved retirement.

Fun fact – Steve has traveled to Rome, where he not only saw the Pope but also visited Saint Peter’s Cathedral (the largest cathedral in the world).  He even had the unforgettable chance to play the organ there!