Robert Harington

By day I work as Associate Executive Director of the American Mathematical Society. What this means is that I run a publishing business that allows my organization to provide programs and services for our 30,000 members and mathematicians generally around the world. Because this business is a non-profit, I am fortunate to be able meld a mission-driven approach with a business approach. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and in fact I would not be surprised if even in the womb, my toes formed tapping along to Bach, Britten, or Schubert – my parents’ favorites. My family leads full lives -- my wife is a professor of gerontology at UMass Boston, and my children (12 and15) embrace many activities (perhaps too many) from rowing to skating – but music is an indelible part of it. We sing, play cello, flute, violin and piano. For us, the magic of the Sheffield Chamber players is that they have brought their music into our home. When the Sheffield Chamber Players give a concert, you experience this wall of intricate sound in a way that is impossible to do in a larger setting. As a host, I have enjoyed bringing this music to friends and family. We hold a concert, yes, but we also have a party, and there is nothing that bonds friends closer together than the power of music -- and perhaps a few glasses of wine.