Doreen Cumming commenced violin studies at the age of six at the Canberra School of Music with Vincent Edwards. During the next ten years Doreen’s teachers and instructors included Charmian Gadd, Richard Goldner, Larry Sitsky, Lois Simpson and John Painter.
Doreen moved to Tasmania in 1988 to continue her studies with Jan Sedivka, shortly after her arrival in Tasmania Doreen was invited to play with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. This was the beginning of an orchestral career spanning over 25 years and is still continuing today. In her 14 years with the Tasmanian Symphony and Tasmanian Symphony Chamber Players, Doreen acted in all violin positions including concertmaster and soloist. Doreen also had a number of conducting appearances with the TSO including recordings for CD and ABC television. In 1998, Doreen was a finalist in the Westfield Young Conductors competition and worked with the esteemed Finnish conducting teacher Jorma Panula.
During her career, Doreen has worked regularly with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra including overseas tours to Asia, Europe and the Americas as well as several internationally acclaimed recordings. In recent years, Doreen has been guest concertmaster for the Willoughby Symphony in Sydney and currently holds the principal second violin position with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
After a year in the north of Spain on contract with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia, Doreen returned to Australia and has since been invited back to work with all the above mentioned orchestras. Doreen has been involved with a number of recordings for film scores including 'Australia' and 'The Black Balloon' as well as CD recordings for Australian Idol, David Campbell, Damian Leith and The Whitlams.
All throughout her professional career, Doreen has taught the violin and several years ago decided to teach full time. She has held the positions of Head of Strings, Tamworth Regional Conservatorium and Co-Head of Strings, Orange Regional Conservatorium. Doreen has been invited to sit on the panel for scholarships and residencies in Orange and Canberra as well as adjudicating for the Armidale eisteddfod and the Canberra String Festival.
Doreen runs her own music centre in Orange NSW. For more information visit Strings on Samson