Dr. Russell L. Robinson has been on the faculty at the University of Florida since 1984, where he is Professor of Music, Coordinator of Music Education and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral music and music education. During the 2005-2006 academic year, he served as the Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs for the College of Fine Arts, and he continues to serve as the Educational Liaison for the college. Dr. Robinson holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Drury University, Springfield, Missouri, and the Masters and Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Miami. Well-known for his innovative and practical teaching and conducting techniques and frequently in demand, Dr. Robinson has made over 300 appearances as a conductor and clinician/presenter at festivals, workshops, state, regional and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), all state choirs and honor choirs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Far East. His conducting venues have included prestigious performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the National Cathedral, the White House, Linz (Austria) Festival and Boston’s Symphony Hall. His schedule keeps him in contact with some 20,000 students and teachers per year. He is a past President of the Florida Music Educators Association, past National Collegiate Chair for MENC and is the current MENC Choral Adviser.
In November of 2002, Dr. Robinson was the music clinician for the European Council of International Schools in Berlin, Germany, and in 2003 he was named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for Career Achievement from Drury University. In November of 2003, Dr. Robinson was the clinician and conductor for the Singapore Choral Association Convention. In the fall of 2004, he was the featured clinician for the Australian National Choral Association in Adelaide as well as workshops for Department of Defense schools music teachers in the US, Japan, and throughout Europe. In the fall of 2005, Dr. Robinson was the featured music clinician for the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) Conferences in East, West and South Africa and again conducted and gave workshops for Department of Defense music teachers in Japan, Germany and the US in intensive training on the topic, Optimizing Musical Performance, working with composer, Libby Larsen. In May of 2006 he conducted the world premier of the Missa Brevis by renowned composer, Paul Basler, with choir and orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In the spring of 2007, Dr. Robinson presented workshops for international school teachers in Prague and Bangkok, and in the fall of 2007 he will return to Africa at the request of the Association of International Schools of Africa. In March 2008, he conducted the DoDDS-Europe Honors Chorus at the Kurhaus Concert Hall in Wiesbaden Germany and in the fall of 2008 he will be an invited presenter for international schools conferences in Nice, France and San Jose, Costa Rica.
Professor Robinson is the 2005-2008 recipient of the UF Research Foundation Professorship for the College of Fine Arts, and in the spring of 2005, he was the University-wide recipient of the UF College of Education's Scholarship of Engagement award which recognizes honorees "whose scholarly activities are yielding an immediate positive impact on teaching and learning in the classroom."
Dr. Robinson is a published author, composer and arranger with over 200 publications in the catalogues of Warner Bros., Shawnee Press, Hal Leonard Publishing, Carl Fischer, Plymouth Music, MENC, Heritage Press, Colla Voce, Walton Publishers, Alliance Music Publications, Alfred Publishing, Bri-Lee Music, Belwin Publications, and has been the recipient of numerous ASCAP composer/arranger awards. A book which he co-wrote with Jay Althouse, The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, published by Alfred Publishing, is widely used by choral directors internationally as are his choral arrangements, and he annually conducts the classical choral recordings for the educational catalogs of Lawson-Gould/Alfred Publishing. Dr. Robinson's video/DVD, Creative Rehearsal Techniques for Today's Choral Classroom, his book, Songwriting Made Easy!, Warm Ups by the Dozen! (Sets I and II), DVD Jazz Style and Improvisation for Choirs and his "just released" DVD Middle School Singers: Turning Their Energy Into Wonderful Choirs! are published by Alfred Publications. His latest book, I Know Sousa, Not Sopranos! A Survival Guide for the Band Director Teaching Choirs! was released in 2008 by Heritage Music Press. All of Dr. Robinson's publications are available from your music dealer.