Asher Raboy


Asher Raboy is an American composer, conductor and educator living in Napa, California. He is the Resident Artist in the Department of Music for Pacific Union College. He was music director of the Napa Valley Symphony for twenty years, conductor of the Diablo Ballet for four and has been music director, assistant or guest conductor for a number of other ensembles. He has worked in opera, theater, symphony and ballet.

Early life and education

Asher Samuel Raboy was born in Park Forest, Illinois. His father is of Russian-Jewish descent, and his mother is descended from New England Puritans. Both were physicists. Asher was the middle of seven children.
Raboy began studying the piano at the age of five. He later developed an interest in orchestral scores, and conducted a number of bands and orchestras throughout his childhood.
Raboy began composing in junior high school, and created pieces for each of his siblings for their piano recital.
Asher attended the State University of New York at Binghamton where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. He studied composition with Ezra Laderman, and, during that time, apprenticed as a conductor and vocal coach with Peyton Hibbitt at the Tri-Cities Opera Company. He went off to Carnegie-Mellon University for his Masters of Fine Arts, studying conducting with Robert Page and Istvan Jaray, and composition with Leonardo Balada.

Career

Raboy returned to Binghamton University to study physics and mathematics while continuing his search for employment. John Covelli appointed him Conducting Assistant of the Binghamton Symphony. He moved on to work as Assistant Conductor with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic under Imre Pallo, and then was appointed Music Director of the Napa Valley Symphony
In 2008 Raboy became a college professor. He wrote a number of scripts and arrangements specifically for young people, and performed concerts for students in pre-school and grade school.

Conducting

While with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in Upstate New York, he conducting classical concerts for the Albany Symphony Orchestra, performing on a barge on the Hudson River to celebrate the birthday of Troy, and touring the capital area performing for children. During this time he worked briefly with the Empire State Youth Orchestra, and then became the co-founder and co-music director for the New Paltz Youth Symphony.
Raboy became conductor of the Napa Valley Symphony Orchestra in 1990, and remained so for twenty years until 2012. He conducted the Diablo Ballet for four years, was the Assistant Conductor with the Santa Rosa Symphony, founded the Napa Valley Youth Orchestra, and guest conducted theater, ballet and symphony productions. He also worked for the Columbus Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, Nevada Festival Ballet, California Symphony, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Belleayre Music Festival Orchestra, Rohnert Park Chamber Orchestra and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra.

Composing

Raboy has composed or arranged nearly sixty works. been an energetic composer. His orchestral works have been performed by the Napa Valley Symphony. His early works include his Piano Sonata and his first orchestral composition, Gymnopedies, Or the Presence of the Goddess. In the mid 1980s, as his conducting began to demand more of his time, Raboy spent less time composing, switching to smaller forms. Then, in 1992 he returned to orchestral work, and created a number of pieces, including Piano Concerto, Orchestral Dances, The Coming Storm, The Journey, and A Mystic Valley.
Raboy has composed violin pieces to be performed by his wife, violinist Katy Brownell. He recently completed My Love by the Ocean , and is currently working on a new sonata for two violins.

Works

Orchestral works

Original work without soloists

  • The Seduction of Enkidu
  • The Journey
  • The Coming Storm
  • For the Start of a New Life
  • A Mystic Valley
  • Orchestral Dances
  • The New Age
  • Phoenix
  • King Lear
  • Of A Distant Love
  • Gymnopedies or The Presence of the Goddess

    Original work with soloists

  • Love Song for Marguerite
  • Piano Concerto
  • Three Small Musicians
  • Clarinet Concerto

    Orchestral arrangements without soloists

  • De Colores
  • Yankee Doodle
  • Shalom Chaverim / Dona nobis pacem

    Orchestral arrangements with vocal solos (with and without chorus)

  • The Lord is my Light
  • Alleluia
  • I Got A Letter
  • Never Mind Bo Peep, We Will Find Your Sheep from Babes in Toyland
  • I Want What I Want from Mlle. Modiste
  • Sadie Salome Go Home

    Orchestra arrangement with chorus (but no soloists)

  • Centenary Hymns
  • There Shall a Star Come Out of Jacob

    Wind ensemble and band works

Original works

  • Dances for Winds
  • Fanfare for the Pony Express
  • For the Start of a New Life
  • Phoenix
  • Lyman Park
  • Maine Community Band March

    Arrangements for wind ensemble and band

  • Centenary Hymns

    Chamber music

Original work

  • My Love by the Ocean
  • Gypsy Ballads
  • A Love Song for Marguerite
  • Sonata for Mallet Percussion
  • Essay for Amplified Cello
  • Duo for 2 Trombones and 2 Trumpets
  • Four Processional Dances for Solo Flute
  • Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano
  • Piano Sonata

    Arrangements for chamber ensemble

  • Wachet Auf
  • Pavane
  • Meditation from Thaïs
  • Liebestraum

    Solo vocal work

Original work

  • If Ever Two Were One

    Choral work

Original work