Robert Chumbley (b. 1954) an internationally known composer, earned his master's of music degree from the Julliard School of Music in 1977. He was a 1977 prize winner of the University of Maryland International Piano Competition; a 1978 prize winner of the Queen Elizabeth of Belgium International Piano Competition; winner of a Rockefeller Foundation Grant in 1980; and winner of the Composer Fellow Prize from the North Carolina Arts Council, 1987-88. He was a student of the Pulitzer-prize winning composer Michael Colgrass.
Robert Chumbley is one of the most versatile musicians of our day. He
is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts (High School),
and the Juilliard School. He has served as Music Director for Atlanta
Ballet for five seasons, and for Cleveland Opera. Robert has appeared
as a guest conductor throughout the world, including the Royal Ballet
Orchestra (London), Norwegian National Opera, the Prague Chamber
Orchestra among others. He has served as Principal Guest Conductor of
the renowned Piedmont Wind Symphony, and as Artistic Advisor to the
Chicago Chamber Musicians. His compositions have been commissioned
throughout Europe and the United States, and have been performed by
Atlanta Ballet, the North Carolina Symphony, Omaha Symphony, the Chicago
Chamber Musicians, the Buffalo Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic,
Piedmont Wind Symphony among others, including major international
festivals. Robert Chumbley has written incidental theatrical music,
three large ballet and two operas scores. His works are recorded on MMC
Records and published by Carl Fisher, Inc.
As a pianist, Robert Chumbley’s appearances have taken him throughout
Europe, Japan, the United States and Africa. He has performed at
Carnegie Hall at the invitation of Carnegie Hall and at the second
inauguration of President Bill Clinton. He has appeared as a soloist
with the North Carolina Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo
Philharmonic, South Florida Symphony, Lincoln Symphony, Orchestre
Provence Cote D’Azur (Cannes) among others.
Robert Chumbley has been a member of the faculties of Appalachian
State University, University of Nebraska, and the State University of
New York at Buffalo. He has served as a Music Panelist for the National
Endowment for the Arts, the Maryland Arts Council, co-chair of the
National Conference for the ArtsMidWest, and as Chamber Music America
National Conference presenter on commissioning new work.
