Rob (b. 1974) was born and raised in Irving, TX. Piano lessons began at 7 and guitar followed at 12.
Rob began playing in bands and had his first professional performances at 16 playing at local cafes and restaurants.
Rob attended college at UT Austin, graduating in 1996 with a degree in Piano Performance.
During the college years Rob played in many bands and jazz groups.
After graduation Rob played on cruise ships for two and a half years. He was a showband pianist, playing seven
nights a week in various settings including dance sets, playing solo piano and trio sets, being the pit pianist for big
production shows, and backing up entertainers like singers, magicians, and comedians,
Rob moved back to Austin in 1999 and stayed until 2011. During these 12 years Rob ran a freelance music services
business doing copyist work for a songwriters, composing for film projects and theatre shows, recording engineering
for small projects, arranging music for singers and jazz bands, and recording accompaniments for student auditions.
As a pianist Rob played jazz all around Austin, did many theatre shows and musicals, held a church accompanist
position, played oodles of weddings, and accompanied for school choirs. Rob also began teaching piano lessons in
2000 and worked with people of all ages in all styles of keyboard playing, both in his private studio and at
The Armstrong School.
In July of 2011 Rob and his wife Veronica moved to Brooklyn, New York. Since arriving Rob has gotten involved in
the tremendous dance scene in New York and accompanies classes at several schools including Mark Morris
Dance Group, Peridance, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Academy East. Rob teamed up with Erik Blicker of G&E Music
and Flavorlab to write music for a Canon commercial. Rob has also begun playing organ at St. John Vianney
Catholic Church in the Bronx. Rob also continues to do arranging and copyist work for clients in Austin, TX.
Resume
Skill Set
Musician: Jazz, Classical, Theatre, Rock, Latin, Sacred
Musical Instruments Primary: Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
Musical Instruments Basic: Accordion, Melodica, Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums, Percussion
Composer, Arranger, Copyist
User of Pro Tools and Sibelius Software
Home Studio and Portable Recording Equipment
Educator: Piano Lessons all styles, Basic Guitar Lessons, Music Theory
Sales and Customer Service
Leadership and Programming
Amateur Piano Technician
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Job experience other than performance and teaching
Freelance Music Services Business (1999-present)
Youth Director Dripping Springs, TX United Methodist Church (2000-2003)
Barnes and Noble Music Dept. - Sales (2003-2005)
Strait Music Company Sheet Music Dept. - Sales (1998-1999)
Strait Music Company Piano Repair Shop Technician (1999-2000)
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Jazz
Solo and Ensemble Gigs (1991-present)
Norwegian Cruise Lines (1996-1999)
House pianist and booking agent for Romeo's Austin, TX (2005-2009)
Pianist and Arranger for The Copa Kings
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Accompanist
Peridance (New York, NY) class accompanist (2011-present)
Ballet Academy East (New York, NY) class accompanist (2011-present)
Joffrey Ballet School (New York, NY) class accompanist (2011-present)
Mark Morris Dance Group (New York, NY) class accompanist (2011-present)
St. John Vianney Catholic Church (Bronx, NYC) Organist (2011-present)
TAP (Texas Arts Project) Junior Camp (2006-2011)
Armstrong Music School Splash Camp (2007-2011)
Dripping Springs (TX) High School Choir and Band (1999-2011)
Lake Travis High School Choir (2005-2007)
Austin High School Choir (2009-present)
Pianist for Austin, TX music ensemble Amici (2009-2010)
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Composition/Arranging/Recording
2010 Composer for production of Baal by Brecht - produced by Paper Chairs Austin, TX
Arranger for The Copa Kings (2009-present)
Film Music Composer (2007-present)
Featured composer/musician for Collin Blair's short film Tormenta's Ear (2007)
Featured composer/musician for Mars directed by Geoff Marslett (2009)
Composer for DADS training videos directed by Martha Diase and edited by Anne Lewis (2010)
Arranger for The Shoe Musical (2005)
Skilled on Music Programs Sibelius and ProTools
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Cruise Ships
Norwegian Cruise Lines Showband Pianist (1996-1999)
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Theatre Pianist
1998 Pirates of Penzance (Norwegian Cruise Lines) // 2000 Bye Bye Birdie (Dripping Springs High School)
2001 Camelot (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2002 The Wizard Of Oz (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2004 Oklahoma (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2005 A Christmas Carol (Austin Playhouse)
2005 Once Upon A Mattress (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2006 Godspell (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2006 Annie (Dripping Springs, TX Middle School) // 2007 Les Miserable (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
2007 Cinderella (Dripping Springs, TX Middle School) // 2008 Devil in the Details by Rain Nox
2009 Hello Dolly (Dripping Springs, TX High School)
1998-2010 Many Broadway "review" shows
2010 Baal by Bertolt Brecht with the Paper Chairs Theatre Company Austin, TX
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Church Pianist/Organist
Dripping Springs United Methodist Church (1999-2011)
Gateway Baptist - Austin, TX (1994-1996)
St. John Vianney - Bronx, NY (2011-present)
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Teaching Experience
Armstrong Music School (2007-2011)
Dripping Springs United Methodist Church (1999-2011)
Privately (1999-present)
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References
Dustin Wills Dirctor's Chair of Paper Chairs Theatre Company dustin.hunter.wills@gmail.com
Geoff Marslett: Swerve Pictures geoff@swervepictures.com
Anne Lewis: www.annelewis.org
Michael McKelvey: D.M.A. Assistant Professor of Music at St. Edward's University mikeem@stedwards.edu
Kyle Hayes: Director of Music at The Dripping Springs United Methodist Church KHayes@utsystem.edu
Margaret Perry: Director of the Armstrong Community Music School MPerry@austinlyricopera.org
Ginger Morris: Director of Texas Arts Project and guest director for many High School and Middle School
Theatre Departments in and around Austin gingermorris@austin.rr.com
Liz Cass: Education Program Coordinator Armstrong Community Music School and Principal Singer
for the Austin Lyric Opera lcass@austinlyricopera.org
Virginia Volpe: Choir Director Dripping Springs High School (1998-2009) virginiavolpe@gmail.com
Tom Gabrielsen: Choir Director Dripping Springs High School (2009-present) tom.gabrielsen@dsisd.txed.net
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Education
Bachelor's of Piano Performance from The University of Texas at Austin
primary teachers: Betty Mallard, Jeff Hellmer, Rick Lawn
Cistercian Preparatory High School Irving, TX
Pre-college piano lessons David Karp of Southern Methodist University
