Robert's career has spanned both music and visual arts, creating award-
winning work in both fields. Raised in New York City’s Greenwich Village
by parents who were active in the arts, he was immersed in music, theater,
literature, and the visual arts from an early age. His experience includes
working for a number of years as a guitarist and composer in New York
City, producing as well as performing on many recordings of jazz, blues,
and popular music. He has composed for both theater and film. In 2001,
following an extremely successful period in the graphic arts, he refocused
his energies on music, completing both Masters and Doctorate studies in
composition by 2007.

He's an active composer and educator, bringing to both endeavors his
trademark enthusiasm and appreciation for artists and students from
diverse backgrounds and disciplines. He has composed a sizeable body of
art music, released several CDs of original compositions, and toured the
United States and Europe. Robert is well versed in the latest music
computer technologies and maintains a state-of-the-art recording studio.

Robert has taught university level courses in theory and composition and
has received a number of prestigious awards and commissions for his
compositions.

Works in progress include a commission from the Brannen-Cooper Fund for
new music for 12 flutes and percussion, and commissions from the UK
group, rarescale, for pieces for quartertone alto flute and electronics, and
a suite for guitar and alto flute. Robert is currently composing a large work
for full orchestra, a string quartet, a flute concerto, and an electro-acoustic
performance piece that will include collaboration with local visual artists.

 

EDUCATION

MAJOR PROFESSORS AND MASTER CLASSES:
Thomas Albert, William Averitt, Gary Burton, Martin Bresnick, Gil Evans, Ladislav Kubik, Krzysztof Penderecki, Michael Torke, Mark Wingate, Chen Yi, and Ellen Taffee Zwilich. 

Doctor of Music, Theory and Composition
Florida State University College of Music
Master of Music, Composition
Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music
Graduate studies, Orchestration and Conducting
Julliard School of Music
Bachelor of Music, Composition and Electronic Music
Berklee College of Music

 

AFFILIATIONS

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
The American Music Center, The College Music Society
The Golden Key International Honor Society
The International Society for Music Education
The International Society for Contemporary Music
The Society of Composers