Robert studied conducting with Ilan Volkov and Kristian Kluttig as well playing trumpet professionally for many years.
He is a regular guest conductor for Scottish Ballet and has conducted performances at theatres across the UK, including Sadler’s Wells, London. And also 2025 sees Robert conduct Scottish Ballet’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” on tour in New Zealand. Works include The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky), Cinderella (Prokofiev), The Snow Queen (Rimsky-Korsakov), Dextera (Mozart), The Scandal at Mayerling (Liszt), Coppelia (Delibes, Karlsson and Atkinson) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Peter Salem).
With the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, he conducted the British premiere of Gavin Bryar’s viola concerto, and the world premiere of the animated film “Yoyo and the Little Auk”, with subsequent performances at the Edinburgh Film Festival and throughout Scotland. He has conducted the RSNO for their John Williams “A Night at The Oscars” in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and is regularly conducting for the orchestra film sessions including the Netflix series, Life On Our Planet..
He has been Musical Director for Colours Classical and for the group, Belle and Sebastian in the SSE Hydro in Glasgow and for Goodgreef Classical in Middlesbrough. His debut at Celtic Connections was to conduct a BBCTV broadcast from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with the Irish folk group The Chieftains, Kris Kristofferson and Eddie Reader.
He has been passionately involved in youth and community music for over 20 years and is currently Musical Director for the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and the Dunbartonshire Concert Band. With the latter, he has commissioned and premiered many new works, recorded, toured, and won top awards at competition. He was conductor/musical director of the Helensburgh Orchestral Society (2005-2021) and is a regular guest conductor for Amicus and the Glasgow Orchestral Society.
Making Music Award: Robert was delighted to receive the award for Best Instrumental Music Director 2021 from UK wide, Making Music. The award recognised his work for creating online music during the pandemic and commissioning a new work for online orchestra by Peter Longworth, “Mosaic”.
Kessington Hall: 2021 witnessed the launch of this new rehearsal and performance arts venue in Bearsden, North of Glasgow, with Robert as Artistic Director and Trustee. This venue has enabled arts-based groups to have a more permanent home for their activities within the community.