Featured clinician at the Percussive Arts Society’s Day of Percussion
Robert was invited to be a featured clinician at the Maryland/Delaware Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society’s Day of Percussion on March 2, 2024. Robert presented a keyboard percussion clinic.
Victory Players 2024 Outreach Concerts
The Victory Players started the new year with outreach concerts in Western Massachusetts. Composer Jorge Sosa (in the blue sweater) gave a presentation on his artistic career, Jorge’s experience being a Mexican composer, and the Victory Players performed Jorge’s piece that he wrote for the ensemble entitled Rocola as well as Leaha Villarreal’s Maravillosas.
First Prize at the University of Maryland Concerto Competition
Robert won first prize at the University of Maryland College Park’s 2023 Concerto Competition performing Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings. Robert competed with instrumentalists and singers across the entire school of music. Robert will perform the concerto with the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra in their 2024-2025 season.
Victory Players unveil Sí se puede Project
For the first two weeks of June 2023, the Victory Players were in residence in Holyoke, MA where they unveiled their new project Sí Se Puede. This project celebrates classical music by Mexican composers, and the Victory Players gave the world premiere of 6 new pieces written for the ensemble. The residency also included outreach programs to local schools and sketches of new works to be premiered in 2024.
Artist-in-Residence at the university of illinois urbana-champaign
For the last week of March 2023, Robert was an artist-in-residence with the Victory Players at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The ensemble gave masterclasses to various applied lesson studios, composition students, and gave performances on campus. Click HERE for more information.
Guest Artist with Lugano Percussion Ensemble
On February 18, 2023, Robert joined Lugano Percussion as a guest artist for their concert at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park, MD. Lugano Percussion is a percussion ensemble from Lugano, Switzerland. Robert performed Again the Distant Bells by William Thomas McKinley.
THe Victory players perform at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals in San Juan, Puerto RIco
On January 14, 2023, Pro Arte Musical invited the Victory Players to perform at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The concert featured every commission from the ensemble’s debut album - El Puerto Rico. Additionally, The Victory Players gave a masterclass at the Escuela Libre de Música - Ernesto Ramos Antonini in San Juan.
Classically Dope: Performance at the Kennedy Center
On September 10, 2022, Robert joined Konshens the MC and Classically Dope for concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. This is Robert’s second appearance with the ensemble.
Summer 2022 Radio Broadcast series on Boston Classical Crb 99.5
All summer long, Boston Classical CRB 99.5 featured a series on the Victory Players and the music on their upcoming album El Puerto Rico. Each episode in the series featured a new composer, their piece, and the interview they did with GBH’s Brian McCreath.
classically dope: a Collaboration between Hip-hop and classical music
On May 7th, 2022, Robert performed with the rapper Konshens the MC, pianist Brandon Felder, and the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble for a collaboration concert entitled Classically Dope. Classically Dope is a hip-hop and classical music collaboration featuring DC rapper Konshens the MC. Using music as an instrument of positive social influence, the ensemble tackles subjects such as the power of belief, racial inequality, stereotypes, police brutality, and being a change agent in the world.
Guest Artist with the Great Noise Ensemble
Robert joined the Great Noise Ensemble as a guest artist on their December 2, 2021 program at the AMP by Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. Robert performed Louis Andriessen’s piece Zilver.
Victory Players Radio Debuts
On September 26th and on October 3rd 2021, the Victory Players were broadcast live on 88.5 FM WFCR. The first broadcast featured the El Puerto Rico: Identity Duets concert from January 2021, and the second broadcast featured the radio preview of the ensemble’s forthcoming debut album: El Puerto Rico recorded in June 2021 at the Fraser Performance Studio in Boston, MA.
Debut Album Recording
During June of 2021, The Victory Players recorded their debut album entitled El Puerto Rico at the famous Fraser Performance Studio in Boston, MA. The album features contemporary classical music commissioned by Puerto Rican Composers. The album will be released in 2022, and video recordings have already been released on YouTube.
TV Broadcast on Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling THeater
On March 6, 2021, The Victory Players El Puerto Rico 3: Identity Duets virtual concert was featured on a live TV broadcast by Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater based out of New York City. Click the link below to re-watch the live broadcast on YouTube.
New England Public Media Virtual concerts
On January 23 & 24, The Victory Players presented two virtual concerts entitled El Puerto Rico 3: Identity Duets hosted by New England Public Media. These concerts featured world premieres of contemporary classical music written by composers of Puerto Rican descent.
The Victory Theatre’s 100th Birthday Celebration
December 31 2020 marked the 100th birthday of the soon-to-be renovated Victory Theatre, the future home of the Victory Players. This online occasion was celebrated with a video featuring an animation of the future design of the renovated theatre and music performed by the Victory Players.
Victory Players - Residency Year Two
In year two of the Pierrot Ensemble’s existence, the group has commissioned a total of 7 new pieces. During the residency, the Victory Players gave multiple concerts and world premiers of the new pieces. They additionally performed outreach concerts at local schools in Western Massachusetts.
Kennedy Center Debut
On February 19,2019, Robert gave his Kennedy Center debut in Washington, D.C. performing a sextet for snare drums entitled Mélange by Matt Keown.
Concert featuring the Music of Gemma Peacocke
Robert performed Gemma Peacocke’s exciting new marimba quartet Death Wish on the Evolution Contemporary Music Series’ concert in Baltimore, MD with the composer in attendance.
Concert Featuring the Music of Jason Treuting
Pictured on the left, Robert performed Jason Treuting’s quartet Life is [ ] as well as the widely popular Amid the Noise. The composer attended and performed in the concert. This concert was featured on the Evolution Contemporary Music Series concert in Baltimore, MD
Leonard Bernstein’s Mass
One of the largest productions to ever be put on a stage, Robert took part in the performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass at the New Psalmist Baptist Church. This concert was performed for Bernstein’s Centennial Celebration.
Concert at the Walters Art Museum
Together with two percussionists, two pianists, and a violinist, Robert put on a mixed chamber and solo concert at the Walters Art Museum on April 6,2018.