Robert Russell

Dr. Robert Russell, professor of music at the University of Southern Maine, is a native of Roanoke, Virginia, where he grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition of choral expression as an integral part of religious life. He studied music and religion at Wake Forest University (BA) and choral music with Lara Hoggard at the University of North Carolina (MM). He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the literature and performance of choral music at the University of Colorado where he studied with Lynn Whitten and Barbara Doscher. He continued his studies with Robert Shaw, Alice Parker, Helmuth Rilling, and Elmer Iseler.

In 1979 Bob and his wife Linda moved to Portland to begin his work at the University of Southern Maine where he conducts the USM Chamber Singers and University Chorale and teaches choral conducting and music history. After his first sabbatical in 1986, Bob developed an Elizabethan Madrigal Dinner that has evolved into the successful annual Scholarship Dinner hosted by the School of Music. In 2005 he received the Excellence in Teaching Award on behalf of the student body at USM where he is affectionately known as "Dr. Bob" .

Since 1979 Bob has been music director of The Choral Art Society’s three ensembles: Singers, Camerata, and Masterworks Chorus, which performs annually with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure as music director, CAS has performed many major works with the PSO, including the world premiere of Derek Holman's Two Poems, commissioned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CAS. In 1991 Bob prepared CAS for a performance of Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, led by distinguished guest conductor Robert Shaw.

Bob regularly collaborates with many local artistic groups including Portland Ballet Company (Menotti's The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore in 2006 and Carmina Burana in 2004 and 2007), Musica de Filia Girlchoir, Southern Maine Children’s Chorus, Bowdoin Chamber Chorus, USM Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, and musicians from the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Bob has been an advocate for new choral music and instituted CAS' commission of works by local composers George Andoniadis, Scott Harris, Travis Ramsey, Jerry Bowder, and J. Mark Scearce as well as the noted North Carolina composer Dan Locklair.

Bob often travels throughout New England to work with music teachers and their students, leading choral workshops and clinics; he also appears as a guest conductor of festivals throughout the region and at the University of Leicester in England. He has conducted Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont All-State Choruses, and the 1991and 2003 All New England Chorus. He has served a six-year term as Eastern ACDA R&S chair for Youth & Student Activities and twice served as Maine ACDA President, receiving in 1993 the Maine Distinguished Choral Director Award. Under his direction the University Chamber Singers and Choral Art Society have performed for eastern division conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, and Music Educators National Conference.