Dr. Troy D. Robertson (b. 1978) is Professor and Director of Choirs at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where he conducts University Singers, Texan Harmony, Texan Riders, Chamber Choir, and Texan Troubadours. Tarleton choirs are renowned for excellence: under Dr. Robertson’s direction, Tarleton’s Chamber Choir has performed in the Xi’an China International Choral Festival, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and toured parts of England and Japan. Robertson is also the conductor of the Cross Timbers Civic Chorale, a community ensemble whose season includes collaboration with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Performances under Dr. Robertson’s baton have included G.F. Handel’s Messiah, Johannes Brahms’s Requiem, Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, Herbert Howells’s Requiem, J.S. Bach’s Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, W.A. Mozart’s Requiem, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, John Rutter’s Gloria and Magnificat, Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Dr. Robertson is an avid composer. His publications include “The Beatitudes” for mixed a cappella chorus; “Sleeping Heart” for treble chorus and piano; “Soul’s Joy” for mixed chorus and piano; and “Since You’re Not Here,” for mixed or treble chorus, double bass, and drum set. Distributor J.W. Pepper chose Dr. Robertson’s “In Meeting We Are Blessed,” for mixed chorus, treble chorus, or tenor-bass chorus and percussion, for its Editor’s Choice and Basic Library series. It is also featured in the JW Pepper bestseller list. Under the direction of Kevin Fenton, the Florida State University Singers premiered Dr. Robertson’s "This Mystery" for mixed chorus and percussion at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Robertson’s works are published with Music Spoke, Santa Barbara Music, Hinshaw Music, and Colla Voce Music.
An active clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Robertson has served in festivals across the United States, including all state choruses in California, Virginia, and West Virginia. Dr. Robertson was named a fellow of the Carnegie Hall Choral Institute’s Transient Glory Symposium, an honor that included study with Francisco Nuñez, conductor of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, Grant Gershon, conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and John Corigliano, Grammy, Pulitzer, and Academy Award-winning composer. As part of the symposium Dr. Robertson conducted the Young People’s Chorus in performance in Carnegie Hall.
Before coming to Tarleton, Dr. Robertson was Assistant Professor of Music Education at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. He served for several years as choral director at East Gaston High School in Mount Holly, North Carolina. While at East Gaston, his choruses performed in festivals in North Carolina, earning a reputation for excellence and consistent superior ratings. Under his direction the choruses traveled to Florida, Virginia, and New York's Carnegie Hall. Dr. Robertson taught alongside Trip McGill as co-conductor of the Gaston County Choral Ensemble. He also served as associate conductor of the Charlotte Oratorio Singers and Charlotte Chamber Singers under Scott Allen Jarrett, choral ensembles affiliated with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. In that capacity he assisted in the preparation of large- and small-scale choral-orchestral works for conductors Christof Perick and Alan Yamamoto.
Dr. Robertson holds degrees from Florida State University (Ph.D.), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.M.), and Furman University (B.M.Ed.). He is a lifetime member of ACDA and an active member of NCCO, TMEA, and TCDA. He is married to Dr. Stephanie Robertson, a psychologist. The two of them make their home in Stephenville, Texas, with their son, Winton.