Rick Robinson played double bass in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) for 22 years. During this time he created CutTime Players in 1994 to perform The Soldier's Tale by Stravinsky with several principal DSO players. He also transcribed Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev to complement the first program. O ver the years he  won several invitations to arrange, perform, conduct and publish over one hundred famous symphonic works for this versatile mini-orchestra/jazz band.

Robinson suddenly began composing in 1999, with his ESSAY (After Sibelius), which DSO read in 2003 and premiered in 2006. This in turn launched him into bolder directions. He began conducting with the premiere of a CTP version to accompany MLK's I HAVE A DREAM speech in 2003. Read a 2007 DSO article about him. Praised in Time Magazine as an example of how orchestra musicians are reinventing their institutions, Robinson was independently building bridges to both local and distant communities. 

In 2010 Robinson launched the string sextet CutTime Simfonica with more DSO principals to feature his first dozen compositions, all in romantic styles. Half of these blend classical with urban pop dance grooves to acculturate new listeners to the return of themes in concert music. In 2010 these works won him a Kresge Artist Fellowship and a chance to record a debut CD. Later that year he launched the Detroit chapter of Classical Revolution to pioneer connecting classical around pop culture in clubs and non-traditional venues.

In 2013 Robinson spun these ensembles out of DSO to develop broad national partnerships as CutTime Productions LLC, focused on connecting wider communities to their established institutions while building a New Classical tradition. Discover more at cuttime.com.

Here's a first critical review calling him a "modern day Dvorak". CutTime® is helping American orchestras and music schools engage diverse audiences using his music, publications and mildly progressive ideas. He also expanded the Classical Revolution Detroit series in restaurants, bars and clubs with the help of a grant from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. 

Robinson enjoys cycling and sailing.