Gainesville resident Dr. Russell Robinson brings his uplifting music and engaging instruction to legendary Carnegie Hall
As Dr. Russell Robinson conducts a 200-person choir at the prestigious Carnegie Hall this spring, he will draw inspiration from one of his fondest childhood memories. He hopes both his audience and singers will leave with the same exhilarating feeling he first experienced listening to a chorus nearly 60 years ago.
The world-renowned conductor and composer’s passion for music stems from visits to a landmark African-American church in the late 1950s. Sundays after his father’s sermon in Michigan City, Indiana, his family would often travel an hour to attend the First Church of Deliverance in Chicago. The pioneering place of worship was one of the first to sing gospel music.
The invigorating sound of the powerful 200-person gospel choir with organs on each side stirred his soul. A spark was ignited, and he has devoted his career to lighting that spark in students as they discover their own musical gifts.
As one of the most prolific composer and arrangers in the educational arena, the University of Florida Professor Emeritus strives to provide choirs with accessible, quality choral music, regardless of age or genre.
Dr. Robinson says he can hear voices singing as he creates music with a pencil and manuscript paper. The Florida Music Educators Association Hall of Fame inductee writes at a grand piano in his Gainesville home. He has more than 600 publications in print, including choral compositions, arrangements, articles, books and instructional DVDs.
His work has led to numerous American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awards. In addition to five previous concerts at Carnegie Hall, Dr. Robinson’s invited conducting appearances include the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Boston’s Symphony Hall.
The upcoming April 29 Carnegie Hall concert entitled, “The Music of Russell Robinson Conducted by Russell Robinson,” produced by the Distinguished Concerts International New York will be performed by the country’s top middle school choral students. Many of their teachers requested to return after being part of his 2019 concert.
Fueling Passion
As a middle school student cut from the basketball team because of his small stature at that time, Dr. Robinson turned to music. He was quickly promoted to first chair trumpet. He reminds students music is dynamic and does not discriminate. Dr. Robinson teaches educators the importance of showing students the “wow” factor at an impressionable age.
“I especially love working with middle school students. It’s a time when they can explore their interests and uncover their talents. I believe giving them rich music of any genre at this age is an opportunity to get them excited about really good music and fuel their passion,” he said.
A memorable song was born from this philosophy. A choir director he was working with did not feel middle school students were ready for jazz music. The conversation inspired him to write the fun catchy tune, “How Old Do Ya’ Have to Be to Sing the Blues,” a student and audience favorite.
Dr. Robinson is thrilled to see school choirs and music ensembles performing together again after concerts were paused during the pandemic.
One of his favorite roles is serving as an invited clinician and adjudicator for Festival Disney Choral Festivals at Walt Disney World since 2004. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 but is back in full swing this spring.
He said the hiatus has made each of his returning festivals, workshops and concerts even more meaningful.
Engaging Students and Showing Care
After receiving a bachelor of music education from Drury University followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in music education from the University of Miami, Dr. Robinson accepted a job at the University of Florida in 1984. While serving as professor and area head of music education at UF, he was well known for innovative and practical teaching techniques designed to engage students.
For 32 years, he loved teaching “truly incredible” undergraduate and graduate students studying music education and finding their formula to be successful.
Dr. Robinson emphasizes that in order to teach music, music educators must first become outstanding musicians themselves. He shared a piece of advice to music educators or as he calls their profession “musician educators.”
“Keep the focus on the music. Be the best musician you can be. Show them you care. You can change students’ lives and have a tremendous impact,” he said.
Dr. Robinson received several awards over the years, including:
- UF College of the Arts Teacher of the Year Award
- Doctoral Adviser/Mentor Award
- UF Research Foundation Professorship
- UF College of Education’s Scholarship of Engagement Award
- University of Florida Provost’s Preeminent Faculty Award
Dr. Robinson was the very first College of the Arts recipient of the Preeminent Faculty Award back in 2016. Provost Joseph Glover presented this award to him.
Passing It Down to Future Generations
After several trips to speak, conduct, and work with teachers in Africa, Dr. Robinson created an “institutional linkage” program with Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. Together with Kenya’s Duncan Miano Wambugu, they founded the UF African Choir in 2009. The Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir continues to present rich, authentic music of Eastern and Southern Africa under its fourth director from Kenyatta University.
During his time at UF, Dr. Robinson and his wife Brenda founded and directed UF’s Teach the World Study Abroad program. It took more than 100 education interns to international schools in Italy and France.
The Robinsons are still creating ways to support music educators even in retirement. The Dr. Russell L. and Brenda Robinson Musician Educator Award at the University of Florida is a scholarship designed to support the profession. The Robinsons also award annual music scholarships to students at Drury University and Cassville High School in Missouri, where Dr. Robinson first began his teaching career. He said these scholarships are “paying it forward and backward” because of how much these three places influenced his career.
Gainesville Roots
Dr. Robinson has made more than 300 appearances as a conductor, speaker and presenter at festivals, workshops and conferences of the National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. Internationally, he has traveled to more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America.
With numerous offers in the U.S. and abroad, the Robinsons remain happy to have firmly planted their roots in Gainesville. Although she is not in the music industry, Dr. Robinson boasts that Brenda is a phenomenal music listener and provides him with excellent feedback.
As they celebrate 25 years of marriage and enjoy more free time together, they appreciate access to the arts. They enjoy supporting, sponsoring and attending performances at The Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Gainesville Orchestra and Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall.
“I encourage everyone to take advantage of the tremendous educational and cultural opportunities this area has to offer,” he said. “You don’t have to visit New York City for spectacular music. Having traveled extensively around the world, I can say that Gainesville is a truly special place that I am proud to call home.”
By Jennifer Kennedy.