MARIE ROBERTSON

Ms. Robertson has been co-conductor of the Junior Orchestra since 1995.  She is an alumna of the AYS Program and was a concerto competition winner during her senior year of high school.  Ms. Robertson is the first alumna soloist competition winner whose child (son Aaron, a bassist) was also an AYSP concerto competition winner during his senior year of high school. After graduating from high school, she continued to work with the AYSP year after year as a section coach for various groups from the Junior Orchestra through the Youth Symphony, making her the longest-tenured member of AYSP’s artistic staff.

Ms. Robertson attended the University of New Mexico and studied violin with Dr. Kurt Frederick and Leonard Felberg.  While a student at UNM, she maintained a large private violin studio of her own and also performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra before graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  Upon graduation, Ms. Robertson taught orchestra in various public schools, including Valley, Albuquerque, and Del Norte high schools, Wilson, Jefferson and Van Buran junior high schools, and numerous elementary schools.  In 2007 the American String Teachers Association honored Ms. Robertson with a “Lifetime Achievement Award – as a Teacher, Conductor, Performer, Retailer, Board Member and for continuing expertise and dedication to a remarkable array of professional services in music education.”

Ms. Robertson was a violinist in the NMSO for 25 years and also performed in the Opera Southwest Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque.  In addition to serving as a conductor and section coach with AYSP, she has served on the AYSP board of directors and has supported the program financially, along with her husband Don, for many years including during the capital campaign during which AYSP purchased and renovated its current facility.  Ms. Robertson works with her husband Don and with 3 of her sons at their family business, Robertson & Sons Violin Shop, in Albuquerque.  She has 4 sons, all of whom participated in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program.  Several of Marie’s family – two brothers, a niece and a granddaughter – have also participated in AYSP.