Robert Allen Wilson

Robert Wilson, a native of New York City, has had an interesting performing career. During his college years he began a long association with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. His appearances as Organist with that Orchestra have taken him to many European countries and to the Orient, with nationwide tours of the United States, as well. Some of the highlights of those tours have been Concerts at St, Martin in the Fields, London, Notre Dame in Paris, Chartres Cathedral, Salzburg Cathedral, the Karlskirche in Vienna, and St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In New York his performances have included, Avery Fischer Hall, Carnegie Hall, St. Bartholemew's Church, The Riverside Church, Trinity Wall Street, Marble Collegiate Church, Federal Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Cathedral of St John the Divine.

In 1978, he began a nine-year association with the Community Concerts division of Columbia Artists Management. As piano accompanist for five of their concert attractions, Mr. Wilson gave over 500 concerts in every one of the lower 48 States and all but two of the Provinces of Canada. For a period of three years, beginning in 1982, he was engaged by Cunard Lines as music director of Opera Nights on board the Sagafjord and Vistafjord, during which time he often performed his own piano recitals. In the late eighties he joined the roster of vocal accompanists for the Julliard School of Music. From that time on he has often been invited to accompany for onstage auditions at the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1988 he was invited to Busetto, Italy as coach and accompanist for the Bel Canto Foundation Seminar with Carlo Bergonzi. This continued for the next four years in Siena and finally at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. For a period of fourteen years beginning in 1984, he became an associate musician at Temple Emanu-el on Fifth Avenue. He has been the Organist for the Convent Avenue Baptist Church since the Spring of 1992. Most recently, as an orchestrator, Mr. Wilson was the given the job of preparing two works for world premier performances at Carnegie Hall: “The Vision of the Apocalypse” – a work for Double Chorus, Narrator, six vocal Soloists, an Orchestra of eighty, and Organ, and “The African Suite” for two pianos, chorus and full Orchestra.

Mr. Wilson has studied and coached Italian Opera repertoire with Italo Taio, Vincent La Selva, Arnodo Montovani and Walter Barrachi, both of La Scala Opera in Milan, Anton Guadangno, Justino Diaz and Carlo Bergonzi, and Art Song repertoire with Richard Hundley, Ned Rorem, Edwin MacArthur, and John Alexander. He has studied conducting, also with Vincent La Selva and With Francisco de Araujo. His studies in voice have been with Ellen Repp and currently, with Enzo Citarelli. At the keyboard, he has studied piano with Dr. Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, and Organ with Virgil Fox.

Music is more than just a means to earn a living or a mode of entertainment. It is a force of nature given by God and, like the Sunlight or the waves of the Ocean, has an inevitable effect upon the body and heart of anyone who listens. Great music and especially great sacred music can awaken tenderness, sensitivity, an appreciation of beauty, and receptiveness to Truth. It is this belief and insight that gives a sense of ministry. Knowing that music blesses people, and having had a small part in the beautification of souls has been Bob’s light and joy through these many years.

When he’s not making music you’ll find him at home enjoying anything he hasn't seen from Turner Classic Movies, juggling pots and pans over the latest French creation from Julia Child, or dining out with friends.