Detroit Symphony Orchestra Appoints Violinist Robyn Bollinger as Concertmaster

July 29, 2022, 2:15 PM · This week the Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of violinist Robyn Bollinger as Concertmaster, following a successful audition in February and two-week trial with the DSO and Music Director Jader Bignamini in May.

Violinist Robyn Bollinger.

Bollinger replaces Yoonshin Song, who left in 2019 to become Concertmaster of the Houston Symphony. DSO Violinist longtime Associate Concertmaster Kim Kennedy has been serving as acting DSO concertmaster in the interim.

Bollinger will join the DSO this fall for the start of the 2022-23 season.

"Robyn’s great skill and technique were very apparent at her audition," Bignamini said. “I was impressed with her precise intonation, and I remember thinking that we found our DSO sound. Working with Robyn and the DSO musicians in May confirmed that she also is an exceptional leader with the right qualities to be our concertmaster. Over those two weeks in Orchestra Hall, she earned our respect, leading with professionalism, seriousness, accuracy, the right amount of flexibility, and a good attitude."

Bollinger comes to the position with concertmaster experience, having served as a guest Concertmaster with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and St. Bart’s Music Festival Orchestra. A former member of the Boston-based chamber orchestra, A Far Cry, Bollinger also earned a 2016 Fellowship from the Lenore Annenberg Arts Fellowship Fund for her multimedia performance and recording project Ciaccona: The Bass of Time.

As a soloist, Bollinger made her Philadelphia Orchestra debut at age 12 and regularly performs as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across the United States

She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from New England Conservatory. Bollinger's major teachers included Soovin Kim, Miriam Fried, Paul Biss, Paul Kantor, and Lyle Davidson. She currently plays on a 1697 G. B. Rogeri violin on loan from a private collector and a 2013 Benoit Rolland bow commissioned especially for her.

BELOW: Bollinger plays Bach's Ciacconna:

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Replies

Diana Skinner

July 30, 2022 at 01:54 AM · Sincere congratulations to Ms. Bollinger! That is quite the recording you posted, Laurie! Wow!

Paul Deck

July 30, 2022 at 02:01 AM · As a former Detroiter, it's always good to hear good news about DSO.

Matthew Metz

July 30, 2022 at 11:29 AM · Congratulations, Robyn!

Elisabeth Matesky

July 31, 2022 at 07:34 PM · Re ~ New American born Concertmaster, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, At Last!!! {#4}

After a very very long time, and on the back's of only a few of us of the Baby Boomer Generation, who although most deserving of Concertmaster Posts in the 1970's, when in major Orchestra's & globally, it was unheard of due to still prevailing prejudice's for a woman. and a young one to be engaged as Concertmaster {I know from my own painful experience, tbc at another time, not now}, so that 50 Years On, it has finally begin happening for American born and trained Women Violinists!!! The DSO is now at the forefront of

Orchestras, as was the Minnesota with their hiring of a fantastic violinist and fit for the job woman Concertmaster, the name of whom escapes memory at this moment, but she is now artist teaching at IU/Bloomington and a Super Musician! It's Not the idea of a Woman leading a major orchestra which should have always made this so truly tough to crack, but **Merit which I'm still truly saddened to say, even amongst finest male musician's, and famed one's, did not find acceptance for nearly a Half Century. I wish to Hi Five compliment the Audition Committee of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and personally, because this is a WIN for Superb Women Violinists with the 'Right Stuff', Globally!!!

Heartfelt Congratulations to Robyn Bollinger, for an At Last Won the Post Concertmaster I with a major American Orchestra, and this appointment will thrust Detroit into the Front Ranking of American Major Orchestras, I predict on this July 31st, 2022 Day!

*We can see Lake Michigan from our Chicago Living Room and I will now look at Lake Michigan with Joy that just across the Lake, sits a DSO Concertmaster, in the name of Robyn Bollinger!!! As is said in the UK, 'Jolly Good Show!!'

~ Submitted with Joy amid Relief for The Future ~

............. Elisabeth Matesky / Chicago .............

Fwd dg

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