Dr. Susan Robinson has a Ph. D. in fine arts/orchestral conducting from Texas Tech University, a M.M. in choral/orchestral conducting from Ball State University, and a B.A. in music performance from Susquehanna University. She has worked with Leonard Atherton, Gunther Schuller, Samuel Adler, Harold Farberman, Daniel Lewis, Pierre Boulez, Daniel Lewis, Donald Portnoy, Tido Dejan and others.
Dr. Robinson is currently Conductor and Music Director of the Pinellas Youth Symphony. Under Dr. Robinson the PYS has performed Sinfonie fantastique by Berlioz, Francesca da Rimini and Symphonies No. 4 and 5 by Tchaikovsky, Overture to Die Meistersinger by Wagner, Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” by Dvorak, Scheherazade, Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, Firebird Suite, Petrushka, Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. 1 by Sibelius, Symphony No. 2 by Hanson, among many other masterworks. In 2008, Robinson conducted the PYS in its first European performance tour. Robinson has also been music director of the Central Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Central Florida Master Choir, and Dodge City Symphony Orchestra. Under Dr. Robinson these ensembles performed a brilliant array of masterwork literature.
Robinson is in demand as a guest conductor. Recent engagements include the National Radio Orchestra of Moldova, Zabrze Philharmonic in Poland, The Florida Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (FL), Camerata Europaea in Berlin, Germany, Filharmonica Muntenia in Targoviste, Romania, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria, San Angelo Symphony (TX), Spokane Symphony (WA), Long Bay Symphony (SC), Dubuque Symphony Orchestra (IA), Fayetteville Symphony (NC), St. Petersburg Symphony Congress Orchestra in Russia, and the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic in the Czech Republic In addition, she has worked with the Las Cruces Symphony, Lubbock Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Idaho Falls Symphony, and Denver Symphony.
Robinson has been invited to participate in the Dmitris Metropoulos International Conducting Competition in Greece, the “Mario Gusella” International Competition in Italy, and the Kirill Kondrashin International Competition for Young Conductors in the Netherlands. She was the only American finalist in the 2002 Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition.
Dr. Robinson has been teaching at the college/university level since 1986. She is currently teaching piano, music appreciation, music history, and voice at St. Petersburg College. She has also been interim orchestral conductor at the University of Tampa, and interim conductor of the University of Florida Orchestra. In her other college positions across the US, Dr. Robinson has served as both Director of Instrumental and Director of Choral Activities. Her courseload has included Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, conducting, music appreciation, music history, music theory, world music, humanities, class piano, class voice, and private lessons.
As a stage musical director, Robinson has conducted works including Amahl and the Night Visitors, Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, Little Shoppe of Horrors, South Pacific, Snoopy, Urinetown, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and many others. She feels strongly about education and is active as a clinician, working with young conductors, and vocal and instrumental ensembles, both locally and throughout the United States.
To inquire about availability for new students in Susan’s studio schedule, please CLICK HERE.
Susan is qualified to teach private music lessons in the following areas:
Piano: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced