Robyn Michelle Reso

Robin Michelle Reso (Robyn), 63, passed away suddenly on August 27, 2019. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. Ms. Reso received her Bachelor of Music degree from Loyola University. She then went on to earn a Master of Music in Voice Performance from University of Houston and received her M.A. in Musicology from Washington University in St. Louis. She also completed course work for a Doctor of Musical Arts with the University of Houston. A mezzo-soprano, Ms. Reso performed extensively as a concert artist, recitalist, in opera, and was a specialist in the performance of music written before 1750. She was a soloist with such groups as Rochester, NY Chamber Orchestra, Connecticut Pro Musica, Carmel Bach Festival, I Cantori di New York, New Jersey Masterworks Chorus, Boston Early Music Festival, Bach Society of St Louis, St Louis Early Music Ensemble, Banff Festival Orchestra, Banff Opera, Chicago Masterworks Chorale, Akron Symphony, and Boston Early Music Festival. In Houston, Ms. Reso was a founding member of Ars Lyrica Houston, and often performed as a soloist with the J. S. Bach Society of Houston, The Mercury Baroque Ensemble, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Chamber Singers, Houston Masterworks Chorale, and The Woodlands Symphony. She taught voice and related studies at Cabrini College, Washington University in St. Louis, Lee College, and the University of Houston. While performing and teaching, Ms. Reso also served the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for several years as music director, first at St. Michael’s Catholic Church and later at Corpus Christ Catholic Church. Following undergraduate study, Ms. Reso entered Stanbrook Abbey, a Benedictine contemplative community in England. After several years, she left the abbey to pursue her musical vocation, but remained connected with the Stanbrook community, returning often to visit and give choir workshops and lessons for individual sisters. A meditation practitioner for years, Ms. Reso dedicated herself to the formal study of Zen Buddhism and practice. She was a committed and valued member of the Appamada community in Austin, a center for contemporary Zen practice, inquiry and study. Inspired by her father’s profound belief in the transformative power of education and her deep appreciation for the education she received at Loyola University, Ms. Reso created the Robyn Reso Classical Music Scholarship Fund at her undergraduate alma mater. The scholarships will provide financial assistance to young classical musicians with recognized need and talent who aspire to a classical performing career in music. Ms. Reso was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney Reso and Patricia Reso Freitag, and her brothers, Gregory Reso and Christopher Reso. She is survived by her sister Cyd Reso of Ashville, NC; sister Renee Reso, niece Katherine Starkey and nephew Patrick Starkey of Montclair, NJ; stepfather William Freitag of Georgetown, TX; an extensive and close step-family, and countless friends. There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, October 15th, at 11:00 am at Mercury Hall, 615 Cardinal Lane, Austin, TX 78704, with lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made these organizations focusing on immigration justice: Al Otro Lado, is a bi-national, direct legal services organization in Tijuana, Mexico, serving indigent deportees, migrants and refugees seeking asylum who wish to present themselves to U.S. authorities at the border. TRLA (Texas Rural Legal Aid) - Dilley Pro Bono Project, provides free legal services to asylum-seeking mothers and their children who are being detained in the South Texas Family Residential Center (STFRC), the largest detention center in the country. Casa Mariella, the only homeless shelter in Austin dedicated solely to immigrants, welcomes displaced immigrants and promotes self-sufficiency by providing shelter and support services. 65% of its shelter residents, including children, are asylum seekers, many coming to Casa Mariella directly from immigration detention.

Robyn Michelle Reso

August 4, 1956 - August 27, 2019