music.wikisort.org - Musician

Robert Blocker, DMA (born September 4, 1946) is an American classical pianist,[1][2][3] music educator, and university administrator,[4][5][6] who has served as Dean of the Yale School of Music since July 1995. He is a Steinway artist.

Robert Blocker
Henry and Lucy Moses Dean of Music, Yale University
Incumbent
Assumed office 2006
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Southern Methodist University
In office 2005–2006
Preceded by	Ross C. Murfin
Succeeded by	Paul W. Ludden
Dean of Music, Yale University
In office 1995–2005
Founding Dean, School of the Arts and Architecture
In office 1991–1995
Dean, College of Music
In office 1988–1991
Dean, School of Music, Baylor University
In office 1983–1988
Dean, School of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
In office 1981–1983
Personal details
Born	(1946-09-04) September 4, 1946 (age 76)
Alma mater	B.A., Furman University (1968) MM, North Texas (1970) DMA, North Texas (1972) Fellow, Harvard (1986)
Occupation	Music school dean Music educator

Career highlights

Institutions
Yale 2006–current	Blocker is the Henry and Lucy Moses Dean of Music at Yale University, also holds the position of Professor of Piano, and is an affiliate Professor of Leadership Strategies at Yale University’s School of Management. During his tenure as dean, Blocker has seen the Yale School of Music endowment increase from $29 million to $375 million and planned additional commitments totaling $20 million. He presided over the restoration and renovation of the Yale music complex, which cost $100 million.
SMU 2005–2006	Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Southern Methodist University, Dallas
Yale 1995–2005	Dean of Music, Yale University.
UCLA 1991–1995	Professor and Founding Dean, School of the Arts and Architecture, and Professor of Management (Adjunct), Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles
North Texas 1988–1991	Professor and Dean, College of Music, University of North Texas. Blocker was an alumnus of North Texas (MM, 1970, DMA, 1972). During his tenure, the endowment for the College of Music increased $2.25 million.
Baylor 1983–1988	Professor and Dean, School of Music, Baylor University
UNCG 1981–1983	Professor and Dean, School of Music, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
SFA 1976–1981	Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Music, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches
Brevard 1974–1976	Associate Professor and Chairman, Division of Fine Arts, Brevard College, Brevard, North Carolina
Western Texas 1973–1974	Associate Professor and Chairman, Division of Fine Arts, Western Texas College

Education

Blocker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University in 1968. He earned graduate degrees — Master of Music in 1970 and Doctor of Musical Arts in 1972 — from the University of North Texas College of Music, where he studied with eminent American pianist Richard Brannan Cass (1931–2009), an alumnus of Furman and Juilliard and 1953 Fulbright Scholar to the National School of Music of Paris where he had studied with Nadia Boulanger.[7] In 1986, while serving as dean at Baylor, Blocker was a fellow at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard in 1986.

Honorary degrees

• 2014 — Doctor of Music, University of South Carolina
• 2006 — Professor of Piano, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing
• 2003 — Doctor of Music, Converse College
• 1995 — Master of Arts, Yale University
• 1992 — Doctor of Humanities, Furman University

Honors & awards

• Elm-Ivy Award, Yale University, April 2008
• Founder's Award, PORTALS, The Hotchkiss School
• President’s Citation for Extraordinary Service, University of North Texas, 2005
• Honorary Professor of Piano, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, 2004
• Elected Member, The Grolier Club, New York City, a society for bibliophiles, 2003
• Yale Tercentennial Medal recipient, 2001
• Featured in Steinway and Sons film commemorating 300th anniversary of the piano, 2000
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Furman University, 1999
• Order of the Palmetto, 1999 (highest distinction of service awarded by the state of South Carolina)
• Outstanding Professor, Baylor University, 1986
• Artist-in-Residence, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities, 1985
• Teaching Excellence Award Grant, Stephen F. Austin State University, 1980
• Artist Teacher, National Piano Foundation, 1980–1981
• Artist Roster, Texas Commission on the Arts, 1978–1981
• Artist Faculty, Brevard Music Center, 1974–1976
• Outstanding Teacher Award, Brevard College, 1975
• Texas State Doctoral Fellowship, 1970–1972
• Outstanding Doctoral Candidate, University of North Texas College of Music, 1972
• Outstanding Masters Candidate, University of North Texas College of Music, 1970
• Rotary Scholar, 1964–1968
• Presser Scholar, 1964–1968

Selected publications

Selected discography

• Mozart, Piano Concertos Nos. 12, 13, and 14, Naxos Records (2010) OCLC 690227850, 767878821

Recorded May 14–16, 2007, Morse Recital Hall, Sprague Hall, The School of Music, Yale University

Blocker, piano; Biava Quartet

• Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 3, Credia Classics (S. Korea) (2002)

Recorded live, July 12, 2002, Beethoven Festival, Woosong Arts Center, Daejon, South Korea

Blocker, piano

Daejon Philharmonic, Shinik Hahm, conductor

Family & growing up

Blocker is a graduate of the St. Andrews Parish High School, which as since merged with West Ashley High School in the Charleston County School District of South Carolina. He was president of the Charleston County Student Council and is a member of the St. Andrews Parish High School Hall of Fame.

References

External links

• Blocker’s personal website
• Bio — Yale School of Music
• Bio — Yale School of Management

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