Finalist: Brian Robinson, Baritone

Brian Robinson is a classical composer and baritone whose output has spanned an eclectic range of genres. A graduate of the Mannes College of Music, Brian received his Bachelor of Music in Classical Composition in 2003 with David Tcimpidis, and has written serious works for chamber ensembles and full orchestra as well as two collections of art songs set to the poetry of Leonard Cohen and Nikki Giovanni. In 2007, Brian was commissioned to write a full orchestra work for the Yale Symphony Orchestra, where he will enter his ninth season as Managing Director. He has also composed several orchestral transcriptions of popular and serious music for the Yale Symphony's annual Halloween Show. In February of 2012, Brian will premiere another orchestral overture for the Yale Symphony in honor of guest pianist Idil Biret.
Brian began his musical career as a baritone, and has continued to study art song through his compositional career. He is the baritone soloist for the Church of the Redeemer in New Haven, and enjoys his role as founder, singer and composer for the children's music ensemble, The Cretaceous Quintet, who perform songs about dinosaurs at local museums and nursery schools.