Robert's career has spanned both music and visual arts, creating award- winning work in both fields. Raised in New York City’s Greenwich Village by parents who were active in the arts, he was immersed in music, theater, literature, and the visual arts from an early age. His experience includes working for a number of years as a guitarist and composer in New York City, producing as well as performing on many recordings of jazz, blues, and popular music. He has composed for both theater and film. In 2001, following an extremely successful period in the graphic arts, he refocused his energies on music, completing both Masters and Doctorate studies in composition by 2007.

Robert served as Program Director (Dean), of a new online Bachelors degree in music Music Production at Full Sail University in Orlando from 2009 through 2011. He was responsible for building a program to teach music composition, theory, and production online. He hired and supervised all faculty of approximately 25 people, and wrote and/or directed the creation of all curricula and teaching materials.

He's an active composer and educator, bringing to both endeavors his trademark enthusiasm and appreciation for artists and students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. He has composed a sizeable body of art music, released several CDs of original compositions, and toured the United States and Europe. Robert is well versed in the latest music computer technologies and maintains a state-of-the-art recording studio.

Robert has taught university level courses in theory and composition and has received a number of prestigious awards and commissions for his compositions.

Composer. Interlochen. Eastman. Classical. Chamber Music. Bassoon.

J.-E. Berendt: "Nada Brahma: the world is sound".  
Claus Bury: "The engineer pursues a goal and considers what means he can use to achieve it. 
The artist is not initially subject to any specific purpose. Only he is allowed to do totally crazy things."
Kenny Werner: "If you make music out of the world of thought, you miss the whole wonder of music."
"Music is not an art form with clear boundaries, but rather what we want to perceive as such."
Navacky (Poland):
"The most important thing for me is to create music that I feel, not stick to any particular genre."

Followers of Robert Raines