Robert Nordling’s conducting has been characterized as “emphatic”, “dramatic”, and “vivid” with a “fresh and airy quality and a certain elegance” (San Francisco Chronicle). Robert serves as the Music Director of the Baroque on Beaver Island Music Festival (Northern Michigan) the Shoreline Music Society (Michigan) and as Music Director Emeritus of the Bandung Philharmonic Orchestra (Indonesia),
Nordling received a 2019 Fulbright Scholarship in partnership with the Bandung Philharmonic for work to develop conducting talent in Indonesia for which e presented an extended Conducting workshop.
in January 2021, Nordling curated the Bandung Philharmonic Chamber Music Festival and in February presented a live, virtual conducting Master Class hosted by the Bandung Philharmonic.
In Summer 2023 Nordling conducted his 14th Season as Music Director fo the Baroque on Beaver Island Summer Festival. The festival included World Premieres of Commissioned works by Tony Manfredonia and Clarice Assad.
In November 22 Nordling conducted the World Premiere of Robert Hart’s Opera Contemplating Fire with soloists Emily Marvosh, Martha Guth, Ryan DeRyke and Arnold Rawls for the Shoreline Music Society.
Nordling has commissioned composer Eric Malmquist to write a piece for the 2024 Baroque on Beaver Island Season. Nordling’s commitment to new music is evidenced by his commissioning and premiering over 20 new works since 2016.
A sought out clinician and educator, Robert performs orchestra clinics, music educational workshops and master classes in schools in the USA and abroad. He lead the Bandung Philharmonic Conducting Fellows program which trains young Indonesian conductors in Master Classes and performance from 2015 - 2023. He has also served on the music faculty of the Calvin University Music Department and Trinity International University where he conducted the orchestras and taught in the areas of music history, music appreciation and conducting.
A native of New Jersey, Robert began his early studies on violin with Stephen Clapp and Paul Zukovsky. Following his undergraduate study at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, he was awarded conducting fellowships to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute where he worked with Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson Thomas, Herbert Blomstedt and Erich Leinsdorf. He also received conducting fellowships from the Oregon Bach Festival to work with Helmuth Rilling and the Cedardell Opera Festival to work with Boris Goldovsky.
Robert is also an active composer and arranger based in Michigan. His interests include liturgical music, Arthurian literature, English poetry, science fiction, Indian food, furniture-making, Welsh Terriers, Tom Waits, Cherith Nordling and his 3 grand children.