Aaron Robinson

Aaron Robinson Biography

Aaron Robinson – (b.1970) Award–winning American composer, conductor, and best-selling author. As conductor, Maestro Robinson has conducted several premiere works for the concert stage including Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha, Leonard Bernstein’s Candide - The Concert Version, and also Sondheim and Co. - A Gala Celebration, honoring the music of Stephen Sondheim. In 2004, Mr. Robinson received critical acclaim for his work as conductor and musical arranger for Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity – A Gospel Celebration. The creation of this phenomenal achievement was documented for public television and has now received worldwide acclaim, resulting in a best-selling Christmas Gospel Album.

Mr. Robinson has lectured extensively on the history of American music, including Jazz and Ragtime, the music of George Gershwin, and American music, celebrating American Broadway and film composers. He has been crowned as being one of “America’s foremost proponents of Ragtime and early Jazz.”

Having performed On- and Off- Broadway, Mr. Robinson studied composition at the Boston Conservatory with American composer John Adams and Lawrence Thomas Bell, and film scoring at the Berklee School of Music with Maestro John Williams. In 2001 was musical supervisor, conductor and arranger for the Broadway musical Islands – A New Musical at the New Victory Theater on 42nd Street.

Mr. Robinson has written for television, film and theater, and produced several musicals for the stage. Many of his classical works have been performed throughout the world, including his now famous An American Requiem for Orchestra and Chorus. At Ragtime Festivals around the world, Mr. Robinson’s New England Ragtime Suite is performed with great acclaim. It recently was called one of the most “original works of ragtime written in its true form since the turn of the 20th Century”. Mr. Robinson created the musical tale “The Amazing Bone” with children author William Steig’s (creator of Shrek) book; the ballet fantasy Peter and Wendy from the play by J.M. Barrie, and the stage musical of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
He has released several recordings including They All Played Ragtime, along with the original cast recording of Treemonisha - The Concert Version, Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, Symphonic Dances – The Music of Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, La Belle Epoque ~ Musical Moments in Maine, and Works for Harpsichord: Johann Sebastian Bach & Georg Frederick Handel.

Returning to his native state of Maine in 2001, Mr. Robinson served as Director of Music for Music at Immanuel in Portland, Maine where he also resided as choirmaster and celebrated organist, vocal coach and staff/faculty accompanist for the University of Southern Maine, former in-resident Musical Director for Good Theater, Celeste Player for the PSO, and lecturer for Merrill Auditorium’s Broadway Series.

More recently, Mr. Robinson finished working on the film score for the upcoming documentary: “In the Shadows of Grey Gardens” His book “Does God Sing – a Musical Journey” was released worldwide in January 2013, and reached no. 5 on Barnes and Noble Bestsellers list. He also received an Emmy nomination for composing the Opening Theme to MPBN’s television series “Maine Arts!” Currently he is at work composing the score for the Musical-Opera The Legend of Jim Cullen, which will have its premiere in July 2014 at Heartwood Regional Theater Company. Mr. Robinson lives in Mid-Coast Maine with his wife and son.