ROBERT GROSS
Doctor of Musical Arts
Board-Certified Music Therapist
Education
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MA 2020 Music Therapy, Texas Woman’s University
DMA 2008 Music Composition, University of Southern California
Graduate Certificate 2008 Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television,
University of Southern California
MA 2002 Music for Film, Television and Theatre,
University of Bristol
MM 1998 Music Composition, Rice University
BM 1995 Music Composition, Oberlin Conservatory
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MA Thesis
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“Able-Diverse Music Therapy: Toward a New Model of Disability and Music Therapy,”
Nicki Cohen, director
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DMA Dissertation
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“Two Hamlet Scenes,” 2008, Frank Ticheli, director
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Board-Cerfied Music Therapist
Certification Board of Music Therapy Exam Passed, July 2020
Music Therapy Practicum Experience
Willow Bend Memory Care 2017 Older Adults with Memory Impairments, 45 hours
Denton ISD 2018 Special Needs Children, 45 hours
Plano Children’s Theater 2018 Special Needs Children and Young Adults, 45 (North Texas Performing Arts) hours
Haven Behavioral Health 2018 Adults with Mental Illness, 45 hours
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Music Therapy Internship
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Haven Behavioral Health 2019 Adults with Mental Illness, 560 hours
North Texas Performing Arts 2019 Special Needs Children and Young Adults, 460 hours
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Employment
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2010-2013, Lecturer, Rice University
2010, Adjunct Instructor, Rice University
2006-2007, Instructor, Renaissance Arts Academy
2006, Adjunct Instructor, Bethesda Christian University
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TEACHING
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Lecturer, Department of Composition and Theory, Shepherd School of Music,
Rice University, 2010-2013
Courses: Theoretical Studies II (Freshman Theory), Theoretical Studies III, (Sophomore Theory), Graduate Theory Review, Analytical Systems, Analytical Approaches, Early Modern Masters, Music Since 1950, Special Topics (Post-Tonal Prolongation; Postmodernism)
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Adjunct Instructor, Department of Composition and Theory, Shepherd School of Music,
Rice University, 2010
Course: Analytical Systems
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Private Composition Instructor: 2007-2009
Gave individual composition lessons in Pasadena, CA to a then-high school student who went on to study composition at Oberlin Conservatory
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Instructor, Music Theory, Renaissance Arts Academy, Eagle Rock, CA, 2006-07
Courses:
Music Theory
Developed syllabus, materials, ran a listening lab and taught four sections, Grades 6-12, twice per week
Advanced Music Theory
Developed syllabus, materials, taught course and a ran listening lab, Grades 10-12
Music Composition
Developed syllabus, materials, ran a listening lab, coached and critiqued individual compositions, Grades 10-12
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Adjunct Instructor, Bethesda Christian University, 2006
Courses:
Counterpoint II
Developed materials, syllabus, presided over interactive counterpoint class exercises
and graded written exercises and tests
Music History I
Developed materials, syllabus, ran a listening lab, lectured, created and graded mid-term and final exams
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Teaching Assistant, University of Southern California, 2004-2006
Courses: Aural Skills I-II, Theory I-II
Graded papers, ran aural skills lab, taught in the absence of instructor
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SCHOLARSHIP/CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS
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Refereed Publications
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“The Social Model of Disability and Music Therapy: Practical Suggestions for the
Emerging Clinical Practitioner,” Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy,
March, 2018
“A Schenkerian Analysis of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro from the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music,” Qualitative Inquiries in Music Therapy: A Monograph Series, Barcelona Publishers, September, 2016
“Post-Tonal Hierarchization in Berg’s Wozzeck,” Journal of Schenkerian Studies
with addenda “A Klumpenhouwer-Network Superisographic Analysis of Berg’s
Wozzeck” and “Defining Klumpenhouwer-Network Superisography,”
April 2015
“Rochberg the Progressive, Revisited,” Perspectives of New Music January, 2013
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Presentations at Professional Meetings
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“Musicking Disability Gain: Strategies for Severely Virtuosic Performances,” Panel
Presentation, Society for Disability Studies Conference, Akron, OH, 2020
“Able-Diverse Music Therapy,” OHMI International Conference, Birmingham, UK, September, 2018
“On the Making of Dyschordia by Blind Labyrinth,” with Kenneth Downey, Audio
Technologies for Music and Media International Conference, Ankara,
Turkey, November 2014
“The Making of Blind Labyrinth’s Dyschordia,” with Kenneth Downey, International
Council for Traditional Music Conference (“Music and the Other”), September,
2014
“Schenkerian Analysis in Multiple Modalities,” part of panel presentation “Universal
Design in the Theory and Aural Skills Classroom,” 2013 national Society of Music Theory conference
“Rochberg the Progressive, Revisited,” presented April 9, 2011 West Coast Conference of Music Theory and Analysis, Santa Barbara, CA
“Prolongation in Stravinsky’s Movements for Piano and Orchestra,” presented April 8,
2011 University of Central Missouri New Music Festival/SCI Region VI
conference, Warrensburg, MO, and published as part
of Proceedings of 2011 University of Central Missouri New Music Festival
“Some Principles of Post-Tonal Prolongation,” presented February 19, 2011 Texas Society for Music Theory conference, Lubbock, TX
“Projection-Constructive Analysis of The Right of Spring and Bartók’s Fourth String
Quartet,” presented November 13, 2010 Society of Composers, Inc. national
conference, Columbia, SC
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Music Publications
Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin, C. F. Peters, New York, NY 2005.
Partial List of Music Compositions
Absynth Chronicles I – XVI, series of electroacoustic works, 2018-2020
Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, for Kearney Symphony Orchestra, premiered Kearney, NE, November 2019
Cantor Songs, piano, recorder and mezzo soprano, for Endicott Players, premiered Tucson, 2017
Downfall, wind ensemble, premiered by Neoteric Chamber Winds, Minneapolis, 2015
Variations on a Schenker Graph of Gesualdo, for Orlando Cela, premiered
and recorded spring 2016
Dark Men They Call Them, fixed media piece with baritone, for Brandon Gibson,
co-composed with Kenneth Downey and released on Beauport Classical, 2014
Rhapsody and Blues, fixed media piece, co-composed with Kenneth Downey and
released on Beauport Classical, 2014
Dyschordia, fixed media piece, co-composed with Kenneth Downey and released on
Beauport Classical, 2014
Bookends, fixed-media piece, to be premiered Casa se las Americas, Havana, Cuba, March 2013
Four Basho Haikai, commissioned by Kenneth Goldsmith, to be premiered on
Rice University Syzygy Series, March 2013
Concerto for Two, for Lachezar Kostov and Viktor Valkov, to be premiered spring 2016
Are We There Yet? commissioned and premiered by Rice University Campanile Orchestra, April 7, 2012
Twelve Structures for Cello and Piano or Twelve Charming Little Pieces for Cello and
Piano, for Lachezar Kostov and Viktor Valkov, premiered Rice University
Syzygy Series, January 27, 2011
Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, for Melissa Sky Eagle,
performance of two-piano reduction, Melissa Sky-Eagle and Lorna Eder, USC, Los Angeles, April 15, 2007
full ensemble premiere, University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, John Lynch, conductor, February 5, 2010
The One and Only, full-length musical, commissioned and performed by The Relevant Stage,
Warner Grand Theatre, Los Angeles, July 1, 2010
Singing Jailbirds, full-length musical, commissioned and performed by The Relevant Stage, Warner Grand Theatre, May 22-24 and May 29-31, 2009
Two Hamlet Scenes, chamber opera, commissioned and partially performed by University of Southern California Chamber Opera, performed Los Angeles, May 11, 2008
Interloper, woodwind quintet plus viola, commissioned and performed by Ensemble Green, Pasadena Conservatory, Pasadena, CA, January 26, 2008
Lotus Eaters, ballet, commissioned by Renaissance Arts Academy, performed
Los Angeles, 2007
Surreal Fields, string quartet, Los Angeles performances by Penderecki
Quartet, Aurora Quartet and USC student ensemble; three performances, 2007
Short. Sweet., viola, for Sharon Ray, performed USC, Los Angeles, April 15, 2007
Elegy with a Petty Thief in the Rigging, SATB choir, piano, cello and percussion,
performed USC, Los Angeles, November 7, 2004; April 15, 2007; David Fick, conductor
Scenes from Dystopia, for USC Guitar Quartet, performed USC, Los Angeles, March 15, 2005; April 15, 2007
Shuttlecraft Chase, orchestra, recorded by City of Prague Orchestra, Richard Hein, conductor, February 9, 2006
Yeehad!, full length musical, performed at Eclectic Company Theatre of North
Hollywood, March-April, 2005 and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, July, 2005
Decennovafurcation, orchestra, for USC Thornton Symphony, performed Los Angeles,
February 3, 2005, Donald Crockett, conductor
Edge of Light, mezzo-soprano and piano, for Charlene Chi, performed Los Angeles,
November 6, 2005
Violin Sonata, performed by Mary Findley, SAI Convention, Dearborn, MI, August 3, 2004
Summary, brass quintet, for Stephen Oberheu, performed by student brass quintet, USC, Los Angeles, 2003
Anagrams for Orchestra, recorded by City of Prague Orchestra, March 1, 2002, Adam Klemens, conductor
Nganon, string quartet and electronics, performed by University of Bristol
Contemporary Music Ensemble, Bristol, England, April 21, 2002, John Pickard, conductor
Symphonic Sussex, orchestra, commissioned by Southwestern Michigan Symphony
Orchestra, performed St. Joseph, MI, December 11, 2001
Rivers and Redbuds, orchestra, performed by Plymouth Music Series Orchestra,
Minneapolis, March 15, 2001
Halcyon Nights, orchestra, for Rice University Shepherd Symphony, read at Whitaker
New Music Readings, American Composers Orchestra, New York, March 20, 1999; Shepherd Symphony, Houston, April 24, 2000, Marlon Chen, conductor
Essay for String Quartet, for La Schola Cantorum Quartet, performed Paris, August 4, 1999
Seven Anagrams for Solo Piano, for Jose Garcia Leon, performed Manhattan School of Music, New York, November 7, 1999
I Heal, Create Sect, Start Over, orchestra, for Seattle Creative Orchestra, performed
Seattle, February 5 and 6, 1999, Roger Nelson, conductor
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Honors and Awards
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Joe Pinson Scholarship, 2017
CD of original compositions (with Kenneth Downey) Blasted Light advanced to first-round Grammy consideration, 2015
Winner, Project Extended Composition Competition, 2015
Winner, Arch Composition Award for Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, 2009
Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, 2008
Harry Warren Award for Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television, University of
Southern California, 2008
Violin Sonata reproduced for cover of Pan Pipes Magazine, 2006
Special Recognition Award, First Music Competition, New York Youth Symphony, 2004
Winner, tri-annual Inter-American Music Awards Composition Competition, with publication by C.
F. Peters, 2003
ASCAP Grants to Young Composers Honorable Mention, 2000
Orchestra work Halcyon Nights selected for Whitaker New Music Readings by American
Composers Orchestra, 1999
Twice ASCAP Victor Herbert Award in National Fed. of Music Clubs Competition, 1997, 1999
Twice ASCAP Grants to Young Composers Finalist, 1997, 1999
Presentation given by invitation on original works, University of Washington, 1999
Young American Composers’ First Hearing Finalist (Civic Orchestra of Chicago), 1999
Twice accepted for participation: La Schola Cantorum summer program, 1997, 1999
Fellowships
Merit Scholarship for Doctoral Study, University of Southern California, 2003
Teaching assistantship and full-tuition fellowship, University of Southern California, 2004-2008
Full-tuition scholarship and stipend, Rice University, 1995-1998
Grants
University of Southern California Arts Initiative Grant (with playwright William Whitehurst), 2003
Twice Margaret Jory Copying Assistance Grant, American Music Center, 1999, 2001
Other Research
Absynth Chronicles recording accepted for commercial release, New Focus Recordings,
2020
“Music in the Key of V: Joe Harnell’s Score to the 1983 Mini-Series,” thesis-
length paper, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, Adrian Beaumont, adviser, 2002.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
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Service to the Profession
Volunteer Musician, Denton State Supported Living Center, Denton, TX, Fall 2017
Volunteer Music Therapy Participant, Childhood Apraxia and Motor Planning (CHAMP)
Camp, Texas Woman’s University, Summer 2017
Service to the Community
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Former Buchanan, MI City Commissioner, 1999-2000.
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Professional Associations
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American Music Therapy Association
American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers
College Music Society
Pi Kappa Lambda
Society of Composers, Inc.
Texas Society for Music Theory
Society for Music Theory
References available upon request
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