Robison, Paula (1941—)
Robison, Paula (1941—)
American flutist. Born Paula Judith Robison in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8, 1941; married Scott Nickrenz (a violist); studied flute with Julius Baker at the Juilliard School of Music and with Marcel Moyse.
Took first prize in the Munich Competition (1964); was the first American to win first prize for flute in the Geneva International Competition (1966); with husband, served as artistic co-director of the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds in Italy and Charleston, South Carolina (1977) and the Spoleto-Melbourne, Australia Festival of Three Worlds (1986).
Paula Robison established her career as a flutist by performing the works of new composers and often commissioning pieces to be written for her from the likes of Leon Kirchner, Oliver Knussen, Toru Takemitsu, and Alberto Ginastera. Along with her husband Scott Nickrenz, she has been active with the Spoleto Festival, an international event which has taken place on three continents. Here, too, Robison has encouraged new works to be performed. A highly skilled musician, she was the first American flutist to win the Geneva International Competition. She has performed as a soloist with leading orchestras throughout the world as well as with chamber groups. In 1978, Robison joined the faculty of the Juilliard School of Music.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia