About Robert Hohner

Robert Hohner, former Professor of Music at Central Michigan University, earned B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, New York, where he studied timpani and percussion with Fred D. Hinger. He also studied with Alan Abel at Glassboro State College and for many years studied privately with Joe Morello.

Professor Hohner was timpanist/percussionist with the National Orchestra of New York and the Dartmouth Symphony at the Dartmouth Congregation of the Arts. He performed extensively in the greater New York area with a number of symphony and opera orchestras including the Bolshoi Opera while on tour from Russia. While in Michigan, he performed as a percussionist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and timpanist with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. He was a very active soloist, performing a wide variety of literature such as Andrzes Panufnik's Concerto for Timpani, Percussion, and Strings with Salvatore Rabbio of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He was vibraphone soloist in the premiere of In Lonely Fields by David Maslanka with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and drum set soloist in Buddy Rich's West Side Story arrangement with the CMU Jazz Lab 1 at the Midwestern Conference.

Robert Hohner was an active freelance musician and a recording artist for the Digital Music Products Label. His discography includes Different Strokes, Lift-Off, The Gamut, World Music Tour and Far More Drums. He also recorded The Percussion Music of David Maslanka on the Albany Label for the composer and Stained Glass for composer David Gillingham. Both composers were present during the recording sessions.

His ensembles have performed and recorded in many prestigious halls including Orchestra Hall in Detroit, BMG Studios (Formerly RCA) and the Hit Factory in New York City, State University of New York (Purchase), Kleinhanse Hall in Buffalo, Devos and Royce Halls in Grand Rapids, the Rozsa Center in Houghton, the Murat Theater in Indianapolis, twice in Carnegie Hall in New York City, and have premiered works by prize winning composers Michael Colgrass, David Gillingham, and David Maslanka. The group has been reviewed in many international publications. His Central Michigan University Percussion Ensembles have performed concerts for the International/National Conventions of the Music Educator's National Convention, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, College Band Director's National Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, and the Music Teacher's National Association. In addition, they have performed annually at the Ford-Detroit International Jazz Festival, formerly the Montreux-Detroit International Jazz Festival, and the Notre Dame Jazz Festival.

Mr. Hohner was a past president of the Michigan Percussive Arts Society and a member of the National Percussive Arts Society Percussion Ensemble Committee. He was an active adjudicator and clinician. He has been presented honorary memberships in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity and the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. He was awarded the 1998 Excellence in Teaching Award and the 1999 President's Award for Creative and Scholarly Activity. He was a Yamaha Artist, a Sabian Artist, and a Latin Percussion Co. Artist.

Through performance and education, Robert Hohner dedicated his life to furthering the art of percussion. In addition to his many achievements during the school year, he spent his summers developing programs for young students. During the past twelve years, his childhood vision of a workshop encompassing all areas of percussion grew from a weekend of clinics to a two-week comprehensive event featuring world-renowned guest percussionists.

Through this endeavor, Robert Hohner was able to share his passion for music and teaching with thousands of students of all ages and ability. His legacy will continue through his students who have gone on to become successful professional musicians, public school educators as well as professors at leading universities around the country.