Jader Bignamini, music director, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) have announced the appointment of violinist Robyn Bollinger as concertmaster, holding the Katherine Tuck Chair after a successful audition this past February and two trial weeks with the DSO and Bignamini in May.
Bollinger, a former member of Boston-based chamber orchestra A Far Cry and a regular guest artist with numerous prestigious orchestras, 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. 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,” says Bignamini.
“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. Robyn is an excellent musician, and I’m so excited to introduce her and all the DSO’s remarkable new musicians to our audiences this fall.”
Bignamini and the DSO also announced the appointment of Conrad Cornelison as principal Bassoon, holding the Byron and Dorothy Gerson Chair established earlier this year in recognition of support from the William Davidson Foundation honoring Mr. Davidson’s late brother-in-law and sister. Cornelison comes to the DSO most recently from the Jacksonville Symphony, where he held the same position.
The DSO has also appointed Adam Rainey as bass trombone. He comes to the orchestra from the Kansas City Symphony. In addition, flutist Shantanique Moore has been named one of the DSO’s two African American Orchestra Fellows following a successful audition in May.
Cornelison, Rainey, and Moore will also join the DSO for the start of the new season, as will violinists Elizabeth Furuta and Daniel Kim, who won their auditions in fall 2021 and whose appointments were previously announced.
“Congratulations to Robyn, Conrad, Adam, Shantanique, Elizabeth, and Daniel on earning their positions in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,” says Kathryn Ginsburg, general manager of the DSO. “Every audition for the past year, including the one that cellist Cole Randolph won last fall, has been successful. This is a truly unprecedented accomplishment, and I want to thank Jader and every musician who served on the audition committees for their leadership.”
