School of Music > Faculty & Staff > Faculty A-Z > Robert Kassinger

Robert Kassinger

  • ​​

  • robkassinger@me.com
  • Adjunct Lecturer
  • Performance; Bass
  • ​Double Bass​

  • 773-325-4372
Education
BM Manhattan School of Music 

Courses Taught
Applied String Bass

About
Robert Kassinger was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Prior to Chicago, Rob performed as assistant principal bass with the Colorado Symphony and also played with the New Orleans Symphony.

In addition to the CSO, Rob performs with the Revolution Ensemble, the Orion Ensemble, Fulcrum Point, Ars Viva, Music of the Baroque, the Callisto Ensemble, MusicNow, and broadcasts on WFMT and WTTW. Most recently he has been a featured guest with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, and has performed Schubert's Trout Quintet with Daniel Barenboim.

Born in Boulder, Colorado, Rob began his bass studies with Frank Carroll at the University of Colorado, and in 1985, he moved to New York to study with Homer Mensch at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music. He later went on to study with Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Some of Mr. Kassingers most influential experiences as a student were his two years as principal bass of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, conducted by Alexander Schneider, and the two summers he spent as a fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival, studying with Stuart Sankey and Bruce Bransby.

Rob's experience as a jazz performer include performances with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Burrell, the Woody Herman band, Conte Candoli, Charlie Rouse, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land and Bobby Lewis. In 1998 and 2000, Rob toured India with the Chicago Jazz Express, and can be heard on their recordings "Voyage to India" and "The Rhythm Section." He is also featured on Daniel Barenboim's "Brazilian Rhapsody" on the Teldec label, and "Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk" by the Revolution Ensemble. Rob's latest project has given him a chance to spend more time with the bass guitar. His alternative rock group NYCO has released its debut album Two, available through nycomusic.com and at Itunes.com.

Rob is Professor of Double Bass at DePaul University, in addition to being a guest instructor at Indiana University, 2006 and 2007. He is also in demand as a coach and master clinician, serving in this capacity for the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music and the 2007 International Society of Bassists Convention.

Learn more on the Bass Studio Page