“The Orchestra of Northern New York says a donation they received has been used to name the principal bass chair in the Orchestra as the Robert B. Washburn Chair,” states an unsigned article in Friday’s (3/11) North Country Now (Potsdam, NY). “Brooks Washburn, Potsdam, and his sister, Roberta Washburn Scharf, Albany, gave the gift in memory of their parents, Robert B. and Beverly D. Washburn, who were generous supporters of the arts and music in the Potsdam area.… ‘Our father often played double bass in several orchestras, and I remember for many years my parents also housed the principal bass player for ONNY when in Potsdam for concerts,’ Brooks Washburn said. ‘Bassists aren’t featured much, but you would miss them if they weren’t there,’ he added.… [Robert] Washburn was a … composer with more than 150 compositions to his name. His works have been performed at EXPO ‘67, at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center.… The Orchestra of Northern New York is … the only year-round, professional symphony orchestra between Ottawa and Burlington, and Plattsburgh to Syracuse.… Its 70 plus musicians perform under the leadership of music director and ONNY founder, Kenneth Andrews.”
Posted March 14, 2016
