Robert Suttmann

Robert Suttmann was born in Philadelphia. He first joined Local 77 in 1982 while still a student of Rich Genovese at Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (bachelor’s degree ’83) now University of the Arts. Early professional playing experience included steady work in the North Philadelphia Latin scene (La Paz, Charanga la Unica) as well as with area wedding and dance bands (Heimat Klänge, Al Raymond, Dave Chaiken, among others).  In 1986, he accepted a job on Carnival Cruise Lines with the in-house show band, after which he attended Manhattan School of Music in New York City (MA ’87) where he studied with Jack Gale. While still playing in New York’s salsa and wedding band scene, he started freelancing as a Broadway musical substitute musician in 1989. Since then, he has played for over 90 Broadway musicals as a sub and chair holder. Additionally, he has played Broadway National tours as a local musician in Philadelphia since 2006, as well as a headliner in the Atlantic City casinos. He currently holds the trombone chair at Big Apple Circus and was on the negotiating committee for their first Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 802 in 2004. Within 802, he served on the Trial Board for 6 years starting in 2009, and on the Executive Board for 3 years in 2015.  He also served on the Finance, Political, Website, and Green Alliance Subcommittees during that time.