ROBERT WILLIAMS

Professional Musician

Robert Williams has been Principal Bassoonist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since September of 1974.  Prior to that he was a solo bassoonist with the Winnipeg Symphony, Winnipeg CBC Orchestra, Colorado Philharmonic and Tucson Symphony.  He has also played summer engagements with the Minnesota Orchestra and Boston Symphony at Tanglewood.

Robert is also a member of CutTime Players, the Neo-Bubonic Bassoon Quartet, the DSO Bassoon Quartet, the DSO Woodwind Quintet, the Bellingham Music Festival and the Grand Teton Music Festival. He teaches at Wayne State University and has also given master classes at Tanglewood, University of Michigan, Michigan State University and the University of Arizona.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, he graduated with honors from the University of Arizona. He received his graduate degree at the University of Southern California.  His major bassoon teachers include Wendal Jones, Leonard Sharrow and Norman Herzberg.

Robert lives in Northville with his wife, Detroit Syphony Orchestra (DSO) English hornist Treva Womble and son Trevor.  When not practicing or making reeds he enjoys fly-fishing and tying flies.

Together Treva and Bob are owners of Womble/Williams Double Reeds, a home business that specializes in products for the oboe and bassoon. As authorized Fox dealers, Womble/Williams Double Reeds produce bassoon cane and sell supplies for both oboe and bassoon.