Hal Robinson
Encyclopedia
Harold Hall Robinson (born July 29, 1952) is an American
classical
double bass
player. He is currently the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra
.
, the son of Keith Robinson and Dorothe Fowler. Both parents were members of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
: his father was the principal bassist, and his mother was a violin
ist. Hal and all four of his siblings—cellists
Sharon
and Keith, Jr., and violinists Erica and Kim—became professional string
players with notable careers.
Robinson graduated from Robert E. Lee High School
in Houston and studied bass at Northwestern University
and the Peabody Institute
. Among his prominent teachers are Warren Benfield
(Chicago Symphony), and Paul Ellison
(Houston Symphony).
) and played in the Santa Fe Opera
Orchestra. In 1977, he became assistant principal bass of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. During this time he was on the music faculty at the University of Houston
. In 1982 Robinson was a prizewinner at the Isle of Man
Solo Competition. In 1985 he was appointed by Mstislav Rostropovich
to the position of principal bass of the National Symphony Orchestra, where he performed until 1995, when he assumed his present posts as principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music
.
, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. He has instructed master class
es in several countries. The Concerto for Bass, Harp and Strings was composed expressly for Robinson by composer and fellow bassist Dave Anderson and was given its premiere
by Robinson with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Robinson lives in Wyncote, Pennsylvania
, with his adopted son. He also has two adult children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
player. He is currently the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
.
Early life and education
Robinson was born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, the son of Keith Robinson and Dorothe Fowler. Both parents were members of the Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra
The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston....
: his father was the principal bassist, and his mother was a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. Hal and all four of his siblings—cellists
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
Sharon
Sharon Robinson (cellist)
Sharon Hall Robinson is an American cellist. She has had a highly successful performing career, both as a concert solo artist and as a member of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, and has recorded extensively...
and Keith, Jr., and violinists Erica and Kim—became professional string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
players with notable careers.
Robinson graduated from Robert E. Lee High School
Lee High School (Houston)
Lee High School, formerly Robert E. Lee High School, is a publicly funded secondary school located in Southwest Houston, Texas, United States 77057. The Houston Independent School District, the 7th largest school district in the United States, operates Lee, a public admission school that enrolls...
in Houston and studied bass at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and the Peabody Institute
Peabody Institute
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a renowned conservatory and preparatory school located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Charles and Monument Streets at Mount Vernon Place.-History:...
. Among his prominent teachers are Warren Benfield
Warren Benfield
Warren A. Benfield was a Classical Double Bass player. He enjoyed a long career in the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was professor at Northwestern University.-Studies and Orchestral Career:...
(Chicago Symphony), and Paul Ellison
Paul Ellison
Paul Ellison is co-principal bass at the Grand Teton Festivals, and is Professor of Double Bass at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He was also on the faculty of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California.Mr...
(Houston Symphony).
Musical career
From 1975 to 1977 he held the position of principal bass of the Albuquerque Symphony (now the New Mexico Symphony OrchestraNew Mexico Symphony Orchestra
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 20, 2011, announcing that it would cease operations and existence. Orchestra members were notified of the board's decision to file for bankruptcy by email, a few hours after the vote was taken...
) and played in the Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
Orchestra. In 1977, he became assistant principal bass of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. During this time he was on the music faculty at the University of Houston
Moores School of Music
The Rebecca and John J. Moores School of Music is the music school of the University of Houston. The Moores School offers the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in music performance, conducting, theory and composition, music history...
. In 1982 Robinson was a prizewinner at the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
Solo Competition. In 1985 he was appointed by Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
to the position of principal bass of the National Symphony Orchestra, where he performed until 1995, when he assumed his present posts as principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
.
Solo performances
Robinson has performed as a soloist with the American Chamber Orchestra, the Greenville (South Carolina) Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Pops Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the New York PhilharmonicNew York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. He has instructed master class
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
es in several countries. The Concerto for Bass, Harp and Strings was composed expressly for Robinson by composer and fellow bassist Dave Anderson and was given its premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
by Robinson with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Robinson lives in Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Wyncote is a census-designated place in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2010 census...
, with his adopted son. He also has two adult children.