Q. Our students would be very happy to meet an African-American classical composer.
Could Mr. CutTime play some of his music at our public school?

A. Mr. CutTime (Rick Robinson) likes to visit every school that makes a request. And we started the small string quartet configuration to accommodate cash-strapped school districts. However, any group performance still requires rehearsal and commitment by four professional musicians. The lowest we can discount to, short of a series of several schools (block-booking), is $1,200 for a single 2.5-hour service, during which we could serve two classes or a general assembly.

We regretfully acknowledge that this is largely unaffordable for the very students who would benefit the most. School districts can apply for grants, but this is a very long process with little guarantee of success. So we seek sponsors who invest in their communities, to let us say YES to every school. This might be a car dealership, a grocery store, a chain department store, a community center, or an individual

Rick Robinson recalls the impression having a black symphony musician involved in his community. “As public school students, my older siblings loved playing violin and cello with their friends at school. When violinist Joseph Striplin joined the Detroit Symphony (DSO) as its first black member, they invited him to direct a community orchestra in our neighborhood of Highland Park. And he accepted. When they rehearsed Bach’s Brandenburg #3, I was so moved, I vowed to take up the cello. Just by his presence in the DSO and sharing his passion with us, I knew I could learn to play in an orchestra, or to realize any other dream if I would accept criticism and work hard enough to improve. So I want to do the same for today’s kids.”

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