Robert Ray

(Associate Professor of Music, and Conductor of University Chorus)

received his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Northwestern University. He has appeared as piano soloist with the Kirkwood Symphony Orchestra, Northwestern University Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and Seoul (Korea) Philharmonic Orchestra. He came to the University of Missouri – St. Louis from the University of Illinois, Urbana, where he served as accompanist coach for the Strings Department and established the Black Student Chorus.

Choruses under his direction have appeared in concert with Ossie Davis, Max Roach, the late James Cleveland, Edwin Hawkins, and many other recording artists. Professor Ray has served as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Ethnic Music and Multi-Cultural Prospectives for the American Choral Directors Association (Southwestern Division) and has appeared as a lecturer and clinician at numerous universities and colleges, as well as MENC, ACDA, and IAJA conventions. He is the composer of Gospel Mass and other works published by Hal Leonard. Recently, he conducted the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in A Gospel Christmas, where the orchestra version of his Gospel Magnificat was premiered.

Professor Ray served as accompanist for singers William Warfield and Robert McFerrin and is in frequent demand as a speaker, adjudicator, and guest conductor. In 1997, Professor Ray served as guest conductor for the Europa Cantat in Linz, Austria, and in July 2000 he conducted the European Youth Choir for a two week concert tour.

Contact Information

Phone: 314-516-6685
robertray@umsl.edu