McNeil Robinson

McNeil Robinson II (born March 16, 1943 in Birmingham, died May 9, 2015 in New York, New York) was a church organist and composer.

Robinson studied piano at the Birmingham Conservatory of Music and performed as a soloist for the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He attended Birmingham-Southern College and played organ for St Andrew's Episcopal Church before moving to New York to continue his studies at the Mannes College of Music with Leonard Shure. From there he was accepted into Juilliard, where he studied under Vernon de Tar and Anthony Newman. He also studied composition with Vincent Persichetti. After graduating in 1970 he traveled to study under George Faxon, Clarence Watters, Marcel Dupré, Yehudi Wyner, Jacob Druckman, and Allen Forte.

Robinson's musical compositions include a "Concerto for Organ and Orchestra" that was performed by the San Francisco Symphony in 1984 and the "Dismas Variation". Two of his hymn settings were included in the 1982 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church. He was well known as a gifted improvisor.

Robinson was hired as organist for the Park Avenue Synagogue in 1965 and also played at St Mary the Virgin Catholic Church and the Church of the Holy Family (United Nations Parish). He later became music director of Park Avenue Christian Church. He joined the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music beginning in 1984 and became chair of the organ department in 1991. He also taught at his alma mater, Mannes. Late in his career, when Park Avenue Christian moved to a more contemporary worship service, he moved to Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Robinson resigned due to illness in 2014. He died the next spring. He was survived by his wife, Maria Cristina and his brother, Robert.

References

• Thurman, Tony ( ) DMA dissertation
• Campbell, Neal (May 21, 2015) "In Memoriam: McNeil Robinson (1943-2015)" Neal Campbell - Words and Pictures.
• Whitney, Craig R. (May 25, 2015) "McNeil Robinson II, 72, Organist and Composer, Is Dead." The New York Times