Robert Kyr

Robert Kyr is a composer, writer, photographer, filmmaker, and intermedia artist. He has composed twelve symphonies, three chamber symphonies, three violin concerti, a piano concerto, chamber music, and more than 100 works for vocal ensembles of all types, including motet cycles, cantatas, passions, and oratorios. His music often explores themes related to conflict and reconciliation (peace-making), the environment and global climate change (living in harmony with nature), and spiritual issues including love, compassion, and forgiveness. His most recent recordings are "In Praise of Music" (ten choral works performed by Antioch Chamber Ensemble; Joshua Copeland, director), "All-Night Vigil" (setting of Rachmaninoff’s text in English performed by Cappella Romana; Alexander Lingas, director), and "Songs of the Soul" (Conspirare Company of Voices; Craig Hella Johnson, director). In 2016, Kyr’s music was recognized with an Arts and Letters award for distinguished artistic achievement from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The award citation stated, "Robert Kyr's powerful vision of fostering peace through music shines brightly and steadily in all his work, from the passionate and often ecstatic polyphonic motets of his 'Songs of the Soul,' to the triumphant close of his trilogy of violin concertos, 'On the Nature of Peace.' Kyr's music is intensely concerned with the human condition and the soul in its search for beauty and transcendence." Kyr is Professor of Composition and Theory and Chair of the Composition Department at the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance, where he directs the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.