Come to Know Classical
By the end of 2012 Robinson resigned his coveted DSO position to realize CutTime’s full potential, seeking partners nationally and across all sectors at a time when attendance for most classical arts continues to decline. This is why Mr. CutTime, as he is now called, combines performance excellence with excellent opportunities to educate (impact) a broader American public.
Everyone deserves to know how high-level instrumental performance describes our shared human conditions. The biggest hurdle may be simply accepting why we need to do this. “Low- to middle-brow classical” will give cheap (affordable) access. Fun exchanges lead to further innovations. To sacrifice the traditions of separation, silence and superiority are proof of love (agape) the broader public needs from us.
Taken together, CutTime emerges as a hybrid mission-enterprise inspiring younger musicians to adapt, reimagine, and insert classical music on par with other traditions. CutTime recruits and models “new classical” for talented young musicians to help concert presenters draw new concert-goers, and to raise the standards for community outreach and education programs. CutTime means to reset and Americanize classical music, as suggested by this landmark document of 1993.
In 2013 Crain’s Business Detroit recognized Robinson with a Salute to Entrepreneurs award as a social entrepreneur, saying he ”is bringing classical music to the masses— which may be one of the most challenging jobs in all of music.” CutTime has won one substantial grant, generous donations, yet few contracts to develop any larger.
