Bob Stanley

Instrument

Clarinet

When did you start playing your instrument?

In the 3rd or 4th grade, I foget which.

What do you do when you’re not playing in the LSO?

I’m a Chemistry Professor at Temple University. I teach everything from general chemistry to physical chemistry to biochemistry. I’m currently funded by NASA(!) to explore how DNA repair proteins have adapted to extreme environments.

When, or how, did you come to join the orchestra?

I joined the orchestra after I received tenure at Temple, in 2001. I had given up playing for 3 years, and luckily Irving liked my music CV and invited me to come play. Without his invitation, it’s likely I would have stopped playing for good!

Do you play in any other musical groups?

Yes, I play in the Philly Winds, a wind quintet, and tinker with the violin a bit.

Do you come from a musical family?

Nope, but both parents loved music: musicals, opera, pop, the Beatles, folk., Bach,etc.

Does the instrument you play on have a story?

Nope, clarinets are not as interesting as stringed instruments in this respect (my violin was made by John Albert, a German immigrant who made instruments in the late 1800’s right on Callowhill in Phila.)

Are you originally from Lansdowne/Philadelphia?

I’m from LA originally, Beverly Hills, if truth be told.

Who is your favorite superhero?

I’ve always like the Metal Men comic (hence my bend towards chemistry), but my early hero was Superman.