Residence: Northville

Hometown: Tucson, AR

Joined the DSO: 1974

Spouse: Treva Womble

Children: Robert Seton (deceased), Trevor Jackson

Pets: Kanga and Bell (Papillons), Zoltan, Jim, and Slim (Cats).

Hobbies: Flyfishing, hiking, bicycling, reading, and reed making.

Active Organizations: International Double Reed Society

Robert Williams was appointed Principal Bassoon of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 1974. Previously he played Principal Bassoon with the Winnipeg and Tucson Symphonies. He is on the faculty of Wayne State University. He also plays with the Grand Teton Music Festival and Bellingham Festival of Music

He is featured on all the recordings the DSO has made under Antal Dorati, Neeme Jarvi and Leonard Slatkin. He has a solo recording of the music of Julius Weissenborn and quartet recording with the Neo-Bubonic Bassoon Quartet.

He is an avid performer of chamber music and is involved with the CutTime Players, DSO Wind Quintet and Bassoon Quartet and the Neo-Bubonic Bassoon Quartet.

He has appeared as soloist with the DSO on several occasions performing works by Mozart, Weber, Hummel, Vivaldi, Strauss and Rota. He has also played guest appearances with the Boston Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra.

He and his wife, DSO English Hornist (retired) Treva Womble own Womble/Williams Double Reeds, a home business that specializes in supplies for double reed players.

Williams plays on a Fox red maple 601 bassoon made in 2009 in South Whitley, Indiana.