Robert Owens (composer)

Robert Lee Owens III (September 19, 1925 – January 5, 2017) was an American composer, pianist, and actor. Biography Owens was born in Denison, Texas, and grew up in Berkeley, California. Owens began playing piano at age 4 (taught by his mother Alpharetta Helm ), composing at age 8, and performing at age 10. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Owens used the G.I. Bill to pursue musical education in Europe. He continued his studies under Grete Hinterhofer at the Vienna Academy of Music between 1953 and 1957. Owens died January 5, 2017, in Munich. In 2006, he wrote the Idomeneo Quartet for oboe and strings, based on Mozart’s opera of the same name. Recognition and awards * International Lifetime Achievement Award, from the National Association of Negro Musicians (2008) * The Preisträger International Lifetime Achievement Award from AnDante Kulturmagazin * “Lift Every Voice” Legacy Award for lifetime achievement in opera, from the National Opera Association (2009) * Friend of the Arts, Kappa chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota (2009) * Artist-in-residence at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Texas Southern University, and University of Nebra