Robert Pherigo, Missouri Composer Laureate

Robert Pherigo (b.1959) makes music as a composer, pianist, tenor and conductor. He is very pleased to have been named 2010 - 2011 Missouri Composer Laureate. This honor is bestowed upon him by Missouri Verses and Voices, First Lady Georganne Nixon, Honorary Chairperson. His setting of Missouri Poet Laureate David Clewell's poem The Hardrock Kid will be performed by combined choirs, conducted by Missouri Western State University choral director, Dr. David Benz, on February 15, 2011 at the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda at Jefferson City during the Verses and Voices Festival concert. (www.versesandvoices.org)

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Robert attended Arizona State University and received his bachelor's degree in piano performance under the teaching of Arnold Bullock and Robert Hamilton. He also met and married his fellow student, flutist Lyra Pherigo, who was at ASU getting her flute performance degree. Having had enough of schooling he then commenced to perform; in Florida, in Chicago for nine years and since 1993 in the Kansas City area. The highlights of his musical life have so far been; studying voice (tenor) with Ronald Combs in Chicago and twice making it to the regional semi-finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition - singing in the Chicago Symphony Chorus under, among others, conductors Sir George Solti and Claudio Abbado - singing in the Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy conductor, for 10 years, at which time the five recordings for Naxos were recorded and released - accompanying the studio of Chicago Symphony piccoloist and flutist Walfrid Kujala and being Mr. Kujala's regular recital partner - playing Liszt's Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude at the American Cathedral in Paris in May 2001 while celebrating 20 years of marriage - the many wonderful performances with his wife, Lyra - performing Liszt's Années de Pèlerinage, Second Year: Italy - being the pianist and occasional tenor or conductor for newEar, Kansas City's premiere contemporary chamber ensemble - having his arrangement, Sing We Now Noel!, written for the Lawrence Children's Choir, Janeal Krabell conductor, published by Santa Barbara Musical Press – conducting Conrad Susa's Christmas opera The Wise Women for Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City – hearing Mendelssohn sung at Buckenwald concentration camp (his music was forbidden during WW II) – and lastly, hearing his compositions come to life, sung and/or played by the wonderful musicians he works with.

Presently Robert is the pianist for the Lee's Summit North High School music department and for Unity Temple on the Plaza, Kansas City. He also gives private lessons. His son, Lucas, is a freshman majoring in voice performance and composition at the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri, Kansas City. When he's not doing music Robert enjoys reading, movies, good television, exploring new places, meditating and taking long bike rides!

The Inward Music - Robert Pherigo
See the Premiere Performance here.