Robert Kelly (composer)

J. Robert Kelly (September 26, 1916 in Clarksburg West Virginia – July 4, 2007 in Urbana, Illinois) was an American composer, composition teacher, and violinist. Kelly began studying violin at six with Albert Kember and later majored in violin at the Juilliard School of Music under Samuel Gardner. Kelly earned his Bachelor of Music Degree (1942) from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied composition with Rosario Scalero. After earning his Bachelor’s degree and some time teaching junior college, Kelly begin teaching at the University of Illinois (1946-1976). Later on Kelly continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Herbert Elwell and earned his Master of Music Degree in Composition (1952). Robert Kelly Picture Biography Early life Robert Kelly was born in Clarksburg, WV on September 26, 1919; to Dallas D. Kelly and Fannie M. Robinson. While Kelly’s parents were not musicians, despite his father playing the saxophone on rare occasions, the town of Clarksburg was filled with professional musicians. Kelly studied violin with Albert Kember at the age of six and clarinet with Frank Migliaccio. It was during Kelly’s high school career that he beg