Baustian, Robert Frederick (16126186): Difference between revisions

Robert attended became Opera Director at the University of Kansas. [[Baustian, Robert F. (16126186)|Robert Baustian]] was a Ritchie Boy. Robert was born June 4, 1921 at Storm Lake, Iowa. He graduated from East High School in Sioux City in 1938 and received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in 1942. During World War II, Robert was with U. Army Signal Gyps in September of 1942, training in the enlisted reserve (radar) in Chicago and vicinity. He was inducted into active service at Fort Custer, Michigan, in September 1943, received his basic training at Miami Beach, Florida, trained for German prisoner of war interrogation at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, and was in combat with the 4th Infantry Division and the 11th Armored Division in Germany from November 1944 to May 1945. He was awarded the Bronze Star. In 1946, he returned to the Eastman School of Music and received his Master of Music degree in 1948. A pianist and conductor of opera and symphony, he has conducted in Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain as well as being the assistant conductor for Gian-Carlo Menotti's opera, "The Consul," which toured the United States in 1950 and 1951. From 1953 to 1957, he was the second conductor at Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germany, returning to the United States in 1957. [[Baustian, Robert F. (16126186)|Robert Baustian]]'s association with The Santa Fe Opera began in 1957, when he was invited by Founder John Crosby to join the company in its very first season. He was a pillar of the conducting staff until 1977, and his influence helped establish the company's strong artistic standards. During his 20-year tenure in Santa Fe, he conducted 51 productions of 25 different operas, in repertory ranging from Marvin Levy's The Tower (1957) to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, which he conducted in 8 different seasons. Baustian was known for his special interest in young singers, and many who had the opportunity to work with him credit those experiences as fundamentally shaping their careers. Baustian was head of the conducting department at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where he mentored young conductors. He continued at Oberlin until 1983. His generosity to the Opera extended beyond his teaching and conducting duties; he served on the Board of Directors from 1985-1990 and was a generous supporter of his beloved Apprentice Program for more than 25 years.