An Evening with Judy Collins

Deborah Sommers, Executive Director at the Modlin Center for the Arts, reflects on artist Judy Collins contributions to the musical world. 

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A memory from the past: my guitar in hand, reading and singing from my Judy Collins songbook, remembering how much the lyrics and music meant to me. I still have the book! I treasured the beautiful lyrics Judy Collins wrote, and was inspired by the songs that she interpreted from other artists. I always felt that her interpretations of these songs were the quintessential version of those works. Her silky, pure voice still resonates with me when I think of her recordings. Little did I know that years later, I would get a chance to tell Judy Collins how much she influenced my early musical life when I presented her for the first time.

“Who knows where the time goes, who knows where the time goes…”¹

Collins was a major voice in the music of the 60s and 70s, and today, she is still producing stunning recordings. Additionally, she has produced multiple records and an Academy-award winning documentary, authored books, appeared on stage and television in theatrical productions, and has interpreted and arranged many major songwriters’ music. Her musical choices have always been quite eclectic and spans folk, rock, art songs, and more. Her renditions of songs from artists such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” are exquisite. Her performance of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” was the quintessential version, and the list goes on.  Regardless, Collins’ own songs, which are both literal and metaphorical, create strong imagery, allowing each of us to catch glimpses into her life.  

Similar to other folk artists of that era, Judy Collins was also a social activist -- her voice spoke for a generation of people. She championed several issues and political causes such as women’s rights and civil rights.  Today, she still is active in supporting and speaking for UNICEF’s international programs. She is actively touring and giving concerts, giving lectures and talks on topics such as suicide prevention and other areas that have been important to her throughout her life.

“…I’ve looked at life from both sides now,

From win and lose, and still somehow,

It’s life’s illusions I recall,

I really don’t know, life at all…”²

I look forward to discovering her choice of songs for the evening’s concert at the Modlin Center. She is an artist whose work and strong presence has traveled along life with us, and I look forward to seeing her again.

¹ (Words and music by Sandy Denny taken from Judy Collins songbook)

² (Music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell, copies from the Judy Collins Songbook.)
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About Deborah Sommers
As Executive Director of the Modlin Center for the Arts, Deborah Sommers is responsible for the more than 45-event ModlinArts Series, four main stage productions by the University's Theatre and Dance department and the University Players and Dancers, 30 musical performances in the Department of Music's Free Concert Series, plus community events and performances throughout the year. Sommers also directs and teaches the University of Richmond's Arts Management program, and works with faculty across the disciplines and schools to design academic components that coordinate with the Modlin Center's artistic programming.

Prior to joining the Modlin Center, Sommers was director of programming at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts. At the Quick Center, Sommers produced an 80-event season of national and international artists that attracted patrons from across the New York area. She also presented a strong K–12 outreach program reaching 14,000 students with long- and short-term artist residencies in public schools, supervised an internship program for university students, and oversaw a children's theatre summer camp and adult summer festival chorus.

Before joining the Quick Center, Sommers was company manager/administrator of the Performing Arts Center at the State University of New York at Purchase, which presented a 60-event season, presenting and coordinating the professional season programming, artists, and residencies. She also worked for a a number of festivals including the PepsiCo Summerfare Festival, and throughout the years has been a consultant in the performing arts field and managed some artists. 

A graduate of Hunter College with a bachelor's degree in music and education and film, Sommers subsequently earned both an M.B.A. and Doctor of Jurisprudence from Pace University. She is admitted to the New York and Connecticut bars. Currently, Sommers sits on the Board of Directors of CultureWorks, Inc. in Richmond, and sits on various committees at the University and public communities. Previously Sommers has sat on several boards and committees, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women USA-Connecticut Chapter, Fairfield Arts Council, and Connecticut Dance Alliance. Other experiences include working as a legal intern at Pace Investors Rights Clinic, Westchester Human Rights Commission, and Pro Bono Legal Partnership, which serves the legal needs of nonprofits.