Free@3 Presents: David Lockington and Robert Byrens

Join us this Sunday as we welcome David Lockington, cellist, and former conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony, and Robert Byrens, one of the most sought-after collaborative pianists in this state, to Free@3. The duo will be performing a Bach Sonata, Beethoven's variations on Mozart's Magic Flute, among others.
Robert Byrens is a highly regarded collaborative pianist and vocal coach from Grand Rapids, MI. His playing has been
described as "beautifully expressive with a singing tone and impeccable articulation." He served as the faculty pianist
and vocal coach at Grand Valley State University from 1990 until he retired in 2020. Robert was the rehearsal pianist and
vocal coach for Opera Grand Rapids from 1993 until his retirement in 2018. He has recently partnered with Ms.
Steltmann to form "Il Duo Lirico".
Robert earned a BA (summa cum laude) from Olivet College in 1979 and continued graduate studies at Western
Michigan University and Indiana University at South Bend. His principal teachers include Dalton Baldwin, Ivan Frazier,
Alan Stulberg, and Ronald Gorevic. He later continued his collaborative piano studies at the Geneva Conservatory. He
began his musical training as the soprano soloist for the American Boy Choir School.
Robert has performed in vocal master classes for many renowned singers and pianists including Phyllis Curtin, Elly
Ameling, Gerard Souzay, Jessye Norman, Martin Katz, and Robert Spillman. As a professional violist, he has been a
member of the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, South Bend, and Battle Creek Symphonies. He has performed in summer
festivals at the Blossom Music Center, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, Fontana Chamber Arts, Garth Newel and the
Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck where he was Associate Artistic Director and performer from 1993 through 2008.

David Lockington has held Music Director positions with orchestras in California, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Colorado,
Wyoming, and New York. He has guest-conducted dozens of other orchestras. Lockington was also Principal Guest
Conductor for OSPA in Oviedo, Spain for almost 10 years. He has made 10 recordings, including one playing his own cello
works. His recording with Dylana Jenson and the London Symphony of the Barber and Shostakovich violin concertos is
fast becoming a classic. He is probably familiar to you as former conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
Lockington grew up in London, England and after attending Cambridge University, emigrated to the US in 1978 to study
at Yale University.
Free@3 offers free concerts to the community, we look forward to welcoming you on Sunday!