12 PERFORMANCE / VOL. XV / ISSUE V WWW.DETROITSYMPHONY.COM

Musician, conductor, arranger,publisher, composer, band leader – RickRobinson is not one to be idle, contentwith just “playing the notes,” as he says.The DSO bassist is busy all the time withdifferent projects, especially the CutTimePlayers ensemble.

Through his endeavors, Robinsonseeks to educate people about classicalmusic who otherwise would not listen to it.

“By bringing music to the people with recitals, chamber music, and otherventures, I can help non-musiciansunderstand how profound and life-changing classical music can be,” he says.

Getting people hooked on classicalmusic has taken Robinson’s career inseveral directions, including the foundingof his acclaimed ensemble CutTimePlayers; composing and transcribingpieces for chamber groups andorchestras; conducting around metroDetroit; and printing music for composerAdolphus Hailstork, the Michigan BachSociety and the DSO.

Music is a passion Robinson has hadhis entire life. A Detroit native, he grewup in a musical family – his motherplayed thepiano andsang, whilehis olderbother andsister playedthe cello andviolin. Afterhis siblingsleft forcollege,Robinsonstarted to playthe cello aswell. He soon realized he was “lousy”and switched to bass, which he loves forthe deep sound it produces.

He took private lessons and furtheredhis studies at the prestigious InterlochenArts Academy. He admits he wasn’t thebest student when he arrived at theNorthern Michigan high school, but hesoon discovered what an excellent

opportunity he had there.“Interlochen was a great

place to learn about all kinds ofWestern art,” he says. “That’swhen I decided I wanted to beas well rounded a musician as I could be.”

After Interlochen,Robinson went to theCleveland Institute ofMusic, earning a Bachelorsof Music degree. Hisgraduate studies took him toBoston at the New EnglandConservatory. He served asPrincipal Bass of the Portland(Maine) Symphony Orchestraand Assistant Principal Bass of theBoston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Aftersubstituting for the DSO for a time, hejoined the orchestra permanently in 1989.

At the time, Robinson was only one oftwo African-Americans in the DSO. While he feels the orchestra has madegreat strides in helping increase thenumber of African-Americans who aremajor orchestra quality throughinitiatives such as the African-AmericanFellowship Program, he still believesthere is opportunity for growth in that

area.Robinson saysone key isreaching out tothe communityto educatechildren andshow themmusic isuniversal. “We need toencouragemoreparticipation

at the grade school level and bring musicto the public schools,” he says. “If peoplecan just close their eyes and forget aboutthe visual aspect, I think people canreally get hooked into where the musiccan take them.”

Reaching out led Robinson to formCutTime Players in 1995, an eight-pieceensemble comprised of DSO musicians.

The group has played and taughtthroughout metro

Detroit and northernMichigan. He came up with the idea for thegroup in Clevelandwhile playingStravinsky’s TheSoldier’s Tale. He envisioned playinggreat orchestral musicin a chamber settingand CutTime Playerswas born. He also

publishes music scoresfor various groups

through CutTime Productions. In thefuture, he hopes to produce CDs andvideos for children, including Prokofiev’sPeter and the Wolf.

Recently, Robinson has ventured into composing, which includes the DSO premiere of “Essay No. 1: AfterSibelius” at last season’s Classical Rootsconcerts. He has just finished a stringsextet, which he will premiere atKerrytown Concert House in Ann Arboron March 30.

“I never thought I would be able towrite melodies and connect them, it’sturning out to be easier than I thought,”he says. “I’m only writing now inconventional modes, music that I wouldlike to play. I’m starting to find my voice.”

When Robinson does have free time,he enjoys sailing, running and spendingtime with his fiancé Cathy and her twosons. Now living on the east side ofDetroit, Robinson likens exploringclassical music to sailing.

“It’s like being on a sailboat asopposed to a motorboat, which is fastand an electric experience,” he says.“Sailing is much more adventurous, youcan’t go directly upwind, you have towind your way there. There’s a lotsatisfaction that comes from going onthat adventure.”

Scott Roush is Publications Manager atthe Detroit Symphony Orchestra. You canreach him at sroush@dso.org.

MEET THE MUSICIAN

Bassist Rick Robinson Goesthe Extra Mile for MusicBY SCOTT ROUSH

CUTTIME PLAYERS AT THE MAX M. FISHER MUSIC CENTER.CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROBERT WILLIAMS, KEVINGOOD, RICK ROBINSON, GEOFFREY APPLEGATE, RANDALLHAWES, SHARON SPARROW AND THEODORE OIEN.

HA

RT H

OLLM

AN

RICK ROBINSON

BLA

KE D

ISC

HER

3252_Perf0607_BOOK5_F 2/22/07 11:21 AM Page 12