From the late 1990s, Robert has developed the conducting aspects of his career, with a particular enthusiasm for community wind bands and orchestras where he is noted for his sympathetic approach to achieving the highest standards, without compromising enjoyment for amateur players. He is currently conductor/musical director of the:
As Musical Director of the Dunbartonshire Concert Band, Robert has led this vibrant community group to prize winning performances at the Scottish and National Concert Band Festivals, and has commissioned and premiered new works, including, Steve Forman’s “Loch Awe”, for which the composer was awarded the 2014 British Composer Award.
He has been Musical Director of the Helensburgh Orchestral Society since 2004 and has conducted a huge variety of concert programmes including a joint performance with Scottish Ballet Associate Program and the only Scottish performance of the Making Music commission by Orlando Gough, “Traditional Values”, in a performance to coincide with the opening of the 2012 Olympics during the Merchant City Festival in Glasgow. The orchestra recently gave a performance om Shostakovich’s “Gadfly Suite” in the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, in association with Dance House.
His conducting work now also extends to the professional arena. In recent years he has studied conducting with Ilan Volkov and Kristian Kluttig, and has conducted the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. In 2013 Robert was musical director for the film composer Craig Armstrong in a performance of the composer’s works in Oran Mor, Glasgow. Other conducting engagements include the Belle and Sebastian concert at the SSE Hydro in May 2015.