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The American tenor, conductor and music pedagogue, Robert C. Rich, obtained his Bachelor of Mausic degree in voice from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida; his Master of Music dgree in voice from Louisiana State University; and his Doctorate in voice from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.
After his studies, Robert Rich taught voice at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. In 1972, he came to Stetson, his alma mater, and served as director of choral activities and associate professor of voice. In this post he directed the Choral Union, composed of about 95 singers - including some voice students - who performed mostly oratorio music, and the Concert Choir of about 48 voices with a more extensive repertoire. In 1989, after 16 years, he switched to more intimate tasks. Instead of the large choruses, he directed smaller ensemble, including a 16-voice group of selected students that performed a wide variety of music, and devoted more time to teaching voice. As director of choral activities at Stetson, Rich founded the high school choral clinic (1979). It has brought as many as 450 students to the campus annually from 45 schools around the country. Rich also founded the popular Candlelight Christmas Concert. It was at Stetson too, that Rich met his wife Mollie, a soprano. They have been working and performing together since.
Robert Rich has performed as soloist and conductor, at numerous musical functions both off and on campuses. Ten times since 1967 he has been invited, through competitive audition, to appear as choral conductor at conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. In 1988, he and his wife taught, sang and studied in Austria and West Germany. In 1989, their destination was France, where Rich worked with Robert Shaw.
In addition to his work at Stetson, Robert Rich is choir director at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. |
