Biographical Notes
Rena Robbins was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 3, 1919. As a young woman, she took time out of her studies at Juilliard to share her musical talents with American troops. Robbins signed up to play the violin for the United Service Organizations (USO) Camp Shows during World War II. Her unit, #223, was one of several in the new concert division of the USO-Camp Shows. In 1944 and 1945, Robbins and four other musicians played “An Hour of Musical Charm” in North Africa and Europe, traveling to countries including Morocco, Algeria, Italy, France, and Germany to perform classical and light opera for servicemen and civilians alike. Notably, Robbins celebrated V-E Day in Liege, Belgium. Her time with the USO ended a few months later, after which she returned to New York, where she had a distinguished career as a violinist and an artist. Rena Robbins passed away at the age of 59.