UNM Robb Musical Trust
  • Home
    • Timeline
  • Symposium
    • 2022 Composers Symposium
    • Composition Commission
  • Folk Music
    • About
    • Research
    • Music >
      • 2020 Musica del Corazon
  • Robb & The Trust
    • JD Robb The Man & His Music
    • The Trust >
      • Underwritten Projects >
        • Música del Corazón
    • Publications, Recordings & Archives
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Gallery
  • Events
  • search
About the Trust

Underwriting

Graduate Assistantship

​
Endorsements

About the Trust

  • Overview
  • Mission & Vision
  • Educational Outreach
  • Activities
  • Board
<
>
 The UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust supports the musical legacy of Robb, furthers his inspiring commitment to education and advances the music of the Southwest.

​Robb served as dean of the UNM College of Fine Arts from 1942-57 and was responsible for starting the UNM Symphony and many other educational initiatives. A composer himself, he produced an impressive body of work, including symphonies, concertos, sonatas, chamber music, choral works, arrangements of folk songs, two operas, a musical comedy and more than 65 electronic works.

During his tenure at UNM, Robb’s fascination with Hispanic folk music led him to collect 3,000 field recordings of traditional songs and dances from the American Southwest, South America and Nepal. These songs, now easily accessed digitally through the UNM Libraries’ Center for Southwest Research (CWSR), form the nucleus of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music, which is housed in the CSWR.

The Trust's many initiatives include the editing, arrangement, performance and recording of Robb’s original compositions, as well as the work of other composers.

Each spring, the UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium brings to the UNM campus composers from around the world, and also showcases the work of UNM student and faculty composers. The Symposium is one of the longest ongoing festivals of new music in the world, and it has attained an international reputation.

The UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Commission Competition, an international contest, takes place every other year. Composers vie for a $3,000 prize. Compositions must be based on a folk song from the John Donald Robb Musical Archive in the CSWR. A panel of judges selects a composer to receive the commission, and the composition is then premiered at the next Composers' Symposium.

Additional initiatives include a Robb Graduate Music Assistantship to support the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music and the Robb manuscript collection at the CSWR as well as to provide assistance for the Composers’ Symposium. More recently established is the annual John D. Robb, Jr. ¡¡Música del Corazón: A Celebration of Nuevomexicano Music!! Concert at the National Hispanic Cultural Center which is one more way the UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust is committed to keeping alive the rich traditions of folk music in New Mexico. The Trust also offers small grants for projects that advance its mission. 
Mission
The Mission of the Trust, in collaboration with UNM, is to support the music and musical legacy of John Donald Robb, to further his inspiring commitment to education, and to advance the understanding of music of the Southwest.

Vision
The Robb Trust, in partnership with composers, performing artists, educators, students and audiences, will enhance the legacy of Dean Robb by preserving the traditions of Southwest folk music, promoting the music of John Donald Robb and supporting the composition of contemporary music.
The Trust is committed to providing scholars, students and the general public the opportunity to explore and study folk music of the Southwest and the music and legacy of John Donald Robb. The Trust encourages and develops programs and materials to help spread information about the legacy and music of Robb. Avenues used to share the Trust's resources include concerts, lectures, alliances created with performers, presenters, community institutions and artists, as well as modernizing access to the John Donald Robb Musical Archive at the UNM Libraries’ Center for Southwest Research (CSWR).

Since its inception, the Trust has supported the editing and arranging of Robb’s original compositions with a goal of creating a library of Robb compositions that represent his best work, exhibit his breadth as a composer and are ready for performance. A growing library of ready-for-performance works includes a variety of vocal and instrumental combinations for all ability levels. The Trust has also assembled a library of high quality recordings of Robb’s work, other composers and folk music of the Southwest.

The Trust encourages performances of Robb’s music and that of other composers in venues nationwide and through the John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium at the University of New Mexico. Each spring, the Composers’ Symposium brings composers from around the world to UNM, and also showcases the work of UNM student and faculty composers. This unique festival provides students and the community the opportunity to interact with internationally recognized composers.

In the tradition of John D. Robb, the Trust encourages new compositions through the UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Commission Competition, a biennial contest that is open to composers from around the world.  Composers vie for a $3,000 prize. Compositions must be based on a folk song from the John Donald Robb Musical Archive in the CSWR. A panel of judges selects a composer to receive the commission, and the composition is then premiered at the next Composers' Symposium.

The Trust underwrites a Robb Graduate Music Assistantship to provide assistance for the annual Composers’ Symposium as well as support for the preservation and improvement of the John Donald Robb Musical Archive and the Robb manuscript collection at the Center for Southwest Research. In addition to Robb’s field recordings of folk songs, the collection includes Robb’s personal papers, photographs, scores and performances, along with recordings of Southwestern music from more than 40 other researchers. The Trust supports the editing, arrangement, performance and recording of Robb’s original compositions, as well as the work of other composers. The Trust also offers small grants for projects that advance its mission.

 Since 1989, the UNM Robb Trust has supported:
  • The editing of many of Robb’s compositions to form an extensive library of performance-ready compositions which are provided to performers at no cost
  • The publication of a revised edition (2008) of his book, Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico, by UNM Press
  • Republication of his authoritative book, Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self Portrait of a People (University of Oklahoma Press, 1980; republished by UNM Press, 2014)
  • Publication of a second volume of Hispanic Folk Songs collected by Robb, Cancionero: Songs of Laughter & Faith in New Mexico (UNM Press 2016)
  • The internationally regarded Annual UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium
  • Performances of his and other composers’ work at the annual UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium, the annual John D. Robb, Jr. ¡¡Música del Corazón: A Celebration of Nuevomexicano Music!! Concert at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and other national and regional venues
  • An international Biennial Composers’ Commission Competition
  • A scholarship for the study and performance of Robb’s piano work
  • A graduate assistant position linked to UNM’s Center for Southwest Research and the UNM College of Fine Arts 
  • Professional CD recordings of Robb compositions 
  • An interactive website along with the Emmy Award winning documentary, “The Musical Adventures of John Donald Robb in New Mexico,” produced by KNME-TV, New Mexico's PBS affiliate
  • Revitalization of the electronic computer lab in UNM’s Music Department including restoration of the Dean’s historic Moog Synthesizer
  • Outreach and support for young composers
  • An up-to-date comprehensive website providing current access to information and resources
  • A comprehensive exhibit celebrating the life and work of Robb at Zimmerman Library

See our Events page for a list of upcoming events.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The membership of the UNM Robb Trust Board of Directors consists of:
  • Dean of the College of Fine Arts
  • Dean of the UNM Libraries
  • Director of the UNM Libraries Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections
  • Chair of the Department of Music
  • Two representatives of the Robb and McDonnell families
  • President of the UNM Foundation (serving ex officio)
  • at least five at-large members of the business and professional community
  • Honorary members as deemed appropriate

*CURRENT MEMBERS 

Ana Alonso-Minutti, Ph.D.
Professor of Musicology, UNM Department of Music
​
James Bonnell
Retired CAO, Madden Hosea & Associates

Russ Davidson
Retired Curator of Latin American & Iberian Collection, UNM Libraries

Peter Gilbert, Ph.D.*
Co-Artistic Director,
​UNM Composers' Symposium 
Immediate Past Chair, Robb Trust

Nina Hobbs
Retired Choral Instructor; APS Music Consultant

Tomas Jaehn
Director, Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, UNM Libraries

Michael Hix, D.M.
Chair, UNM Department of Music

Leo Lo, EdD, MLIS, MFA
Dean, UNM Libraries

Robert Lucero*
Lucero Law, P.C.
Chair, Robb Trust

Robbin MacVittie
McDonnell Family Representative​

Carolyn Mountain
Retired Program Manager, UNM Libraries

lisa nevada
Choreographer, Performer, Educator, Presenter
Freelance/working Dance Artist


Karola Obermüller, Ph.D.
Co-Artistic Director,
UNM Composers' Symposium

Kristine Purrington*
Senior Director of Development
UNM College of Fine Arts
UNM Foundation designee;
​Secretary, Robb Trust


Ellen Robb*
Robb Family Representative
At-Large Member Executive Committee

Art Sheinberg
Composer/Instructor, UNM Lecturer​
Vice-Chair, Robb Trust

Harris Smith
Dean, UNM College of Fine Arts

Bob Tillotson, Ph.D.
Retired Music Department Chair,
Harper College

Jeff Todd
President, UNM Foundation

Leo Lo, Ph.D.
Dean, UNM Libraries

Marc Woodward*
Certified Public Accountant, 
​Woodward & Squire, PC
Treasurer, Robb Trust

 (HONORARY MEMBERS
 
James Bratcher (Remembered)

Charlemaud Curtis (Remembered)
Retired, UNM CFA Libraries

Thomas Dodson, Ph.D.
Retired Dean, UNM College of Fine Arts

Jack Douthett, Ph.D. (Remembered)
Retired CNMCC Faculty

Darlene Evers
Retired Voice Professor, UTEP, Professional Singer

Marilyn Fletcher (Remembered)
Professor Emeritus, UNM Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections

Carmoline Grady (Remembered)

Belinda Jentzen
Retired Senior Development Officer, UNM College of Fine Arts

Michael Kelly
Retired Director,
Center for Southwest Research

Dale Kempter, Ph.D. (Remembered)
Music Director Emeritus, AYS Program

Enrique Lamadrid, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus,
UNM Spanish and Portuguese

James Linnell, Ph.D.
Retired Dean, UNM College of Fine Arts

Martin Mathisen
Partner, Atkinson & Company

Michael Mauldin
Composer

Christopher Mead, Ph.D.
Retired Dean, UNM College of Fine Arts

Elsa Menendez
Field Representative, Office of US Senator Martin Heinrich

Elsie Morosin
Retired UNM College of Nursing,
​Associate Professor

David Oberg
Conductor

Priscilla Robb McDonnell (Remembered)

John D. Robb, Jr. (Remembered)

William Seymour (Remembered)
Retired Chair, UNM Department of Music

Christopher Shultis, Ph.D.
Retired, UNM Department of Music

Karen Turner
Community Volunteer
​
Scott Wilkinson
Professor Emeritus, UNM Department of Music

James (Jim) Wright
Professor Emeritus, UNM Libraries

STAFF

Robb Trust Program Specialist

Chris Orphal
Robb Trust Graduate Assistant 2021-2023

*Current officer

Contact  |  UNM College of Fine Arts  |  Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections
  • Home
    • Timeline
  • Symposium
    • 2022 Composers Symposium
    • Composition Commission
  • Folk Music
    • About
    • Research
    • Music >
      • 2020 Musica del Corazon
  • Robb & The Trust
    • JD Robb The Man & His Music
    • The Trust >
      • Underwritten Projects >
        • Música del Corazón
    • Publications, Recordings & Archives
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Gallery
  • Events
  • search