BIO
Robert is a multi-genre composer, pianist, writer and teacher. In September 2025 he turned his attention to developing new collaborative working relationships and marketing his music, plays, lyrics and other written material. Prior to that he taught piano, theory and composition at the Portland Conservatory of Music through August of 2025. His final recital there in June featured piano works by Barber and Prokofieff and piano and vocal works by himself. His quintet Breathing Space premiered at the Portland Conservatory's Spring Benefit Concert in May 2024. He played works by Prokofieff, Ginastera, Rachmaninoff, Ellington/Evans and his own Dreamscapes at an April 2024 concert, following that with a performance of his 5 Piano Preludes Based on Books in July.
In April 2021 he released an album of original songs, The Presence of That Absence, followed by a performance of 2 movements from his Blue Ballet Suite. In July 2022 he released a studio album of piano music by himself and others entitled Touch and Go.
In 2019 he premiered his piano composition A Distant Shore, had readings of 2 of his plays, and 2 movements of his Blue Ballet Suite were recorded in Athens, Greece by the Ergon Ensemble through Parma Recordings.
Robert majored in music, receiving his B.A. from SUNY Oswego where he studied piano with Anthony Crain DMA. After a semester of post baccalaureate study, he continued his piano studies in NY with concert pianist John Contiguglia, composer Roland Trogan, jazz piano at Lynn Oliver Studios, arranging and production with Jordan Kaplan, taught at the NY School of Music and Ridge Music, and worked for Gil Evans and Warner Bros. Music.
Robert then moved to Portland, Maine working as a full time multi-keyboardist/vocalist for 6 years in Northern New England before turning to Portland area classical, jazz and rock venues. He joined the piano faculty at the Portland Conservatory from 2005 to 2010 and returned in 2017 after playing, composing and teaching at music schools in the San Francisco Bay area for 6 years.
Robert is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and The Dramatists Guild. His music is available online through Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube, Spotify and others and can be heard worldwide on Soundcloud, Jango Internet Radio and robertgansmusic.com