TribLIVE: Robert Page didn't apply for any of the big jobs he's had in music. He didn't need to. His reputation preceded him.
Now 85, he's stepping down as Paul Mellon professor of music at Carnegie Mellon University at the end of the spring term, the conclusion to an important choral career on the concert stage and in academia. He was music director of the Mendelssohn Choir for more than a quarter-century, and prepared choruses for two other of the world's great orchestras, winning Grammys along the way, and conducted great orchestras such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra himself in concert. He came to Pittsburgh to be head of the school of music at Carnegie Mellon more than three decades ago, about halfway through his academic career.
3 comments:
It's articles like this that make me proud to be a student at a school where the faculty is so incredibly talented. I had the opportunity to sit in on a rehearsal for Into the Woods, of which Dr. Page was the musical director. I have to say, I agree with the sentiments expressed in the article. He seemed like an extremely talented person, who knew how to get the vocalists to sound their best. It's also great to me that people with this level of talent actually choose to stay at CMU for a majority of their careers.
We as a school are truely lucky to have had someone as prestigious as Dr. Page be apart of out community. As Dan says this just reminds us how lucky we are to go to such a great school filled with such a well known and talented professorial staff. I was able to watch Dr. Page work while on Into The Woods and he definitly takes on the tactic of telling the performers what to tell them exactly when they need to hear it. There is an unfortunate stereotype with teachers that since they are now teaching its because they dont want to do it or cant do it but our school of drama, CFA and Carnegie Mellon definitely breaks that stereotype.
For a man who has such a distinguished career as he does, I'm surprised that he still teaches as a professor. It's also amazing to think of where he begs and the journey he took to get where he is. He is an incredible example of how passion can really drive a career and make someone so successful and so worthy of the recognition he'll receive when he steps down. I think he was also extremely fortunate to grow up in the family that he did, one that emphasized being a well-rounded, cultured individual.
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