Robert Linn was born in San Francisco in 1925. He studied composition with Halsey Stevens, Darius Milhaud, Roger Sessions and Ingolf Dahl. He was a member of the University of Southern California School of Music faculty beginning in 1957, and served as Chairman of the Music Theory and Composition Department between 1973 and 1990. His published compositions comprise works for symphony orchestra, wind orchestra, chorus and chamber ensembles (Carl Fischer, Lawson-Gould, Shawnee Press, Columbia Music, Theodore Presser, Belwin-Mills, Avant Music, Western International, Walt Disney Music), many of which are recorded (Orion, Crystal, TrueMedia, Golden Crest). He has received numerous awards and commissions, and his music has been performed on six continents by prominent musicians and ensembles. He was past-president of the National Association for American Composers and Conductors, Los Angeles Chapter.

Robert Linn passed away in October, 1999 in Los Angeles.

Notable Compositions and Performances

Linn's orchestral reconstruction of the HEXAMERON by Liszt was performed by the Boston, London and San Francisco Symphonies with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting.

FANTASIA FOR CELLO AND STRING ORCHESTRA featured cellist Nathaniel Rosen at the premiere performance by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Neville Mariner.

In 1990, the CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA #2, written for pianist John Perry, was chosen as a semifinalist entry in the Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards Competition and a finalist in the 1991 National Orchestra Association New Music Project.

CONCERTINO FOR OBOE, HORN, PERCUSSION AND STRING ORCHESTRA, commissioned by the Pasadena Symphony, was given the first performance by that organization with Daniel Lewis conducting.

PROPAGULA, published by Carl Fischer, has been performed by every major wind orchestra in this country.

CONCERTO FOR SOPRANO SAXOPHONE AND WIND ENSEMBLE, commissioned by the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, was first performed in April, 1992 at the MENC Biennial in New Orleans by Kenneth Fischer, saxophone soloist, and the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, Dwight Satterwhite conducting.

CONCERTO GROSSO FOR OBOE, HARPSICHORD AND STRING ORCHESTRA, commissioned by the Baroque Music Festival of Corona del Mar for the Festival's opening concert, June 6, 1993, featured oboist Donald Leake, harpsichordist Malcolm Hamilton and conductor Burton Karson.

LOVE SONG CYCLE for chorus and chamber orchestra was commissioned by Chapman University which presented the work for the first time in April, 1994 with William Hall conducting.

Notable Recordings

CONCERTINO FOR VIOLIN AND WIND OCTET featuring violinist Eudice Shapiro and conductor William Kraft.

DITHYRAMB FOR EIGHT CELLOS performed by "I Cellisti" and commissioned by the American String Teachers Association in honor of Pablo Casals.

QUINTET FOR WOODWINDS played by the Westwood Wind Quintet, who gave the premiere performance on the celebrated Monday Evening Concerts series.

QUARTET FOR SAXOPHONES featuring the Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Quartet.

QUINTET FOR BRASS INSTRUMENTS played by the Fine Arts Brass Quintet.

VINO for violin and piano interpreted by Harris Goldman and Carolyn Brown.

SAXIFRAGE BLUE for baritone saxophone and piano, commissioned and performed by Mark Watters.

DIVERTIMENTO for oboe, two horns, and string quintet, commissioned by the Southwest Chamber Music Society in 1996, was premiered and featured on several programs, and is included on a new CD of works commissioned by the society.

CONCERTO FOR SOPRANO SAXOPHONE AND WIND ENSEMBLE features Paul Bro, saxophonist, and the Indiana State University Faculty Winds conducted by John Boyd.