Born in Painesville, Ohio, Robert Pangborn, Principal Percussionist and Assistant Principal Timpanist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra began studying piano at the age of seven and percussion at nine. His early training was with his uncle, William Hruby at the Hruby Conservatory of Music in Cleveland. He later studied with Cloyd Duff at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Roman Sculz at the Berkshire Music Festival, William Street at the Eastman School of Music and Morris Goldenberg at Julliard. His military service was spent as a percussionist with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point.
Before joining the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 1964, Robert Pangborn held the positions of Principal Timpanist with the Indianapolis Symphony, Mallet Percussionist with the Cleveland Orchestra, and Timpanist/Percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City.
Robert Pangborn spent many years as a private percussion instructor and served on the faculties of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Oakland University. While at the Cleveland Institute he organized and directed the first percussion ensemble and initiated what was to become an annual percussion composition contest.
An accomplished soloist, Robert Pangborn performed the American premiere of the Rolf Lieberman Concerto for Basel Drum and Orchestra with the Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell conducting. The Concerto for Solo Percussionist and Orchestra, by Donald Erb, bears a dedication to Robert Pangborn, and was given its world premiere by Pangborn with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sixten Ehrling. He has also performed The Worried Drummer, a humoresque for solo percussionist, at numerous children’s concerts. In addition to his duties with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he formed several chamber percussion groups including the Detroit Percussion Trio, 4 for Percussion and Mostly Mallets.
During his tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra, Robert Pangborn performed on many recordings for Epic Records under the baton of George Szell. Since coming to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he has performed on recordings for London Records under the baton of Antal Dorati, and the Chandos label under the baton of Music Director Neeme Järvi. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he performed on numerous “hit” recordings for Motown Records and performed as set drummer with Symphonic Metamorphosis, a “cross-over” pop-rock group that performed in concert throughout the United States and on recordings for London Records.
Robert Pangborn and his wife, Brenda, reside in Bingham Farms. In addition to his duties with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he performs as a member of the choir at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. In his free time, he enjoys home restoration, searching for antiques and traveling. In the course of their travels, the Pangborns have acquired an extensive collection of percussion figurines.
