He is an internationally acclaimed contrabassist and teacher born in Houston, Texas, who took his musical studies at Northwestern University and Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Conservatory. He also went on to be a winner of the Isle of Man Solo Competition in 1982.
He has performed as a soloist and member with many orchestras within the United States, which include ten seasons with the National Symphony Orchestra as Principal Bassist from 1985 to 1995, Associate Principal Bassist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra from 1977 to 1985, and from 1975 to 1977 he held the Principal’s chair at the Albuquerque Symphony (later renamed to the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra). Most recently he has been the Principal Contrabass for the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1995.
Some of the many other orchestras he has performed with include the American Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Curtis on Tour Ensemble, Greenville South Carolina Orchestra, the Houston Pops, New York Philharmonic and the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
His recordings include Bottesini: Music for Double Bass & Piano, Vol. 2.
In the field of musical education he has been on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and given many masterclasses nationally and internationally. He has also been Peabody Institute’s Artist-in-Residence in their Double Bass faculty and served at the Wabass Institute for the 21st Century Bass Player summer camp.
He hurt his hand in an accident but successully recovered to continue performing.
Sources:
- http://www.naxos.com/person/Harold_Hall_Robinson/54032.htm
- http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/4050
- http://doublebassblog.org/2008/12/new-peabody-faculty-artist-in-residence-harold-robinson.html
- http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=486675#
- http://web.mac.com/davidludwig/David_Ludwig/Upcoming.html
- http://ranaanmeyer.com/index.php?page=about&category=01–CAMPS&display=12
- http://data.instantencore.com/pdf/1000358/02_18_SR44_Curtis_On_Tour_post.pdf