Canadian-born flutist Robert David Billington earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree majoring in flute performance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. He also has a Master of Music Degree majoring in flute performance from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, and a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in music from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI. Dr. Billington has also done post-graduate work at Ball State University in Muncie, IN, and at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne. His flute teachers have included Bernard Goldberg, Donald Peck, James Pellerite, Robert Aitken, Francis Fuge, and Arthur Kitti.

Dr. Billington is a free-lance flutist and flute instructor in the South Florida area. He has taught at the University of Miami, Boise State University, the University of Illinois, the University of Louisville Preparatory and Non-Credit Department, the Louisville Academy of music, and at Ball State University. His doctoral essay, "A Description and Application of Robert Aitken's Concept of the Physical Flute," demonstrates a means by which the flutist can control certain physical elements of flute playing to become a better flute player.

Dr. Billington, currently the principal and solo flutist with the Miami Bach Society Orchestra, and principal flutist of the Miami Lyric Opera and Hollywood (FL) Philharmonic Orchestras, has performed with numerous orchestras in the United States and with festival orchestras in Europe and has also been a soloist on Trinidad and Tobago Television. He concertizes with the Billington and Gonzalez Classical Flute and Guitar Duo and with the LGEM Trio, a flute, guitar, and percussion trio that performs Western Hemisphere popular and folkloric music.

On Modern Flute

"Also on last night's program was Shun-san for solo flute, by Kazuo Fukushima, a Japanese composer. Robert Billington played the short work, which combines an Oriental style and sound in a Western structural framework. The sometimes breathy, sometimes steely tones, the microtones, simultaneously sounded tones and a host of other effects were all well-played by Billington." Owen Hardy, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY

". . . I was quite impressed with the flutist, Robert Billington." John Schuster-Craig, The Louisville Times, Louisville, KY

". . . Hurry, Ye Happy Shepherds, beautifully sung, and excellently accompanied by solo flute, played by Robert Billington." Raymond Barr, Coral Gables Gazette, Coral Gables, FL

On One-keyed Traverso

"In a beautifully coordinated Flute Quartet in D Major, Op. 41, No. 1 by Pleyel, the players fleshed out the music with natural inflections and tasteful nuances. From the start, the Pleyel flowed like a lively conversation between four friends. . . the Pleyel bloomed with Billington's velvety soft sound." Sharon McDaniel, the Palm Beach Post.

Please visit our web pages for information regarding the concert offerings of the Billington and Gonzalez Classical Flute and Guitar Duo and the LGEM Flute, Guitar and Percussion Trio. You can also find information re: Dr. Billington's Doctoral Essay, "A Description and Application of Robert Aitken's Concept of the Physical Flute" and info regarding flute instruction with Dr. Billington. LGEM - The Music of Robert David Billington and Friends is where you will find information re: our background music activities. We also have a web page that lists Live Public Performances by Dr. Billington.