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