2018 John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium

MARCH 23 - 29, 2018

Visit the 2018 Composers' Symposium Youtube channel to listen to music and interviews with some of our featured composers. 


​The Trust promotes the exploration of new music through the UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium, which takes place every spring on the UNM campus. Since 1972, the internationally renowned symposium has brought composers and musicians from around the world to UNM for a series of public concerts and unique learning opportunities for UNM students. Past guest composers have included such luminaries as John Cage, Lukas Foss, Michael Colgrass, Anthony Braxton and Gordon Mumma.

​Every other year, the Trust sponsors the UNM John Donald Robb Commission Competition. The winner receives a cash prize and the opportunity to have his/her composition performed during the Composers’ Symposium. The 2018 Commission Competition awardee will be announced early in 2018 and the commission will be performed at the 2019 Composers' Symposium (exact dates TBD).

The UNM Robb Musical Trust serves as a bridge between the UNM College of Fine Arts and the New Mexico community, regularly presenting concerts of Robb’s compositions along with Hispanic folk songs, preserving and promoting the archive of 3,000 field recordings Robb made, and collaborating with community partners in educational initiatives. Through its many activities, the Trust proudly carries on the vision of its namesake, John Donald Robb.