Raymond E. Robinson

Musician and Educator

COLUMBIA - Ray Robinson was born in San Jose California, December 26, 1932. He attended San Jose State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in music. He married Ruth Chamberlain in 1954. After serving in the United States Army during the Korean War he attended Indiana University where he earned a Master of Music in Viola performance and a Doctorate of Music in Music Education. He taught at Cascade College in Portland, Oregon from 1959-1963.

In 1963 he was appointed Dean of the Peabody Conservatory of music in Baltimore Maryland, in addition to many other responsibilities there; he built a very successful summer session that attracted musicians from around the country. He also served as Music Critic for the Baltimore Evening Sun.

In 1969 he was elected President of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey where he served for eighteen years. He expanded the performance opportunities for Westminster Choir. He revitalized the church music program and also built another very successful summer session.

After retiring from Westminster he taught at Palm Branch Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida where he headed the Choral Department.

He passed away in Columbia, South Carolina where he lived for the past three years. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, a daughter, Cindy Wright of Columbia, South Carolina and four sons, Greg and Daniel Robinson both of Boulder, Colorado, Brent Robinson of Hong Kong and Jeffery Robinson of Maidstone, England.

Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at Shandon United Methodist Church.