Robert H. Hagenbuch, Jr. ( b. 1967 in Pennsylvania) is a prolific composer and teacher. Hagenbuch is a diverse musician with extensive performance, teaching and composition experience in both Kansas City and Northern California. Many of his students frequently gain first chair/first stand orchestral seating and are also awarded 'I' ratings at District and State Music Contest Festivals. From 1993 - 2008, Mr. Hagenbuch maintained a full schedule of private violin, viola and composition students at Antioch Music Center in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2009, Hagenbuch opened his own private studio, STRAD Enterprises, in the Kansas City Northland. He also maintains a busy schedule teaching at the K.C. Strings Conservatory, where he has served as the annual Summer Music Camp Director since 2007. He has gained great respect in the music arena and is highly sought after as an inspiring and motivating instructor, clinician, adjudicator and commissioned composer. Mr. Hagenbuch currently is Principal Viola and Personnel Manager with Med Arts Symphony, Steve Lewis, conductor.

As a composer, Mr. Hagenbuch is very active and prolific and he receives frequent commissions for his original music. Robert’s earliest composition endeavors were at age 13. His first studies were with Dr. Walter Halen at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri. At Humboldt State University, Arcata, California his principal composition teachers were Dr. Charles Moon, and Dr. Duane Heller, D.M.A Cornell. From June to August of 1992, Hagenbuch studied Advanced Composition Techniques at the Aspen Music Festival under the tutelage of George Tsontakis of the Bard College Conservatory of Music. While at the Aspen Festival, Mr. Hagenbuch was an active participant in weekly master classes with Jacob Druckman and Bernard Rands. Inspired by the exceptional artistic atmosphere in Aspen, Hagenbuch created more than 20 new works that year.

To date, Robert Hagenbuch, Jr. has composed more than 200 works that encompass all voices and instruments, spanning solo, chamber, choral and orchestral works. He has presented 6 composition recitals solely featuring his music. Of the numerous solo compositions, Hagenbuch has created near 100 works for solo piano, notably, two books of “Piano Preludes” totaling 36 preludes, and 2 piano sonatas. During the month of December of 2006, Mr. Hagenbuch achieved the milestone of 100 Opus numbers.

“For a pianist, it is never easy to prepare ‘new music.’ How you are able to idiomatically write for the piano, though you are not a pianist, amazes me.” - Dr. Thomas Willbanks, pianist

In December 2005, Hagenbuch was awarded a CD recording contract and prize with the ERMMedia, “Masterworks of the New Era” project for his symphonic orchestra composition, “Essay - Homage to Barber, Opus 41.” The “Essay” was professionally recorded on the volume #11 CD by the incomparable Kiev Philharmonic, and conducted by the award-winning, conductor-composer, Robert Ian Winstin. The “Essay” received its USA premiere with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Tony Brandolino, conductor, at the September 30, 2006, Family Concert.

“Mr. Hagenbuch’s “Essay” was a delight to behold. Extremely well written, the “Essay” was easy to record because it was prepared and written by a consummate professional. All parts were idiomatically written for their individual instruments. The performers, the world-class Kiev Philharmonic, enjoyed recording and working with the piece as well.” - Robert Ian Winstin

December 2006 was another award-winning month as Hagenbuch received a CD recording contract with the Millennium Symphony, Norfolk, Virginia. His Opus 96, “Overture of Crisis” for symphonic orchestra was recorded in March of 2007 via the ERMMedia, inaugural CD, “Made in Americas.” The CD project featuring American composers of stature was conducted by Robert Ian Winstin.

Mr. Hagenbuch’s commissioned works include “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Opus 150” for Dr. Timothy Jones, violin; “Concerto Grosso, Opus 144” for string orchestra, for the Midwest Chamber Ensemble, Steve Lewis, conductor; “Suite Diabolique, Opus 141” for the Metropolitan Youth Sinfonia, Parker Stanley, conductor; “Overture to Winter, Opus 139” and “Essay No. 2, Homage to 1317, Opus 133” for Liberty Symphony Orchestra, Tony Brandolino, conductor; “Chant & Melancholy Scherzo, Opus 100” for Oak Park High School Orchestra, Robert Hale, conductor; “March for Liberty, Opus 74” for the East Central Indiana Youth Orchestra, Brian Dollinger, conductor; “Daydreams, Opus 37” for the Maple Park Middle School Orchestra, Terri Gibson-Zink, conductor; “Suite for B-flat Clarinet in 6 movements, Opus 31” for John Wiener, former principal clarinet of Kansas City Symphony and “Ave Maria, Opus 28” for the Jacomo Chorale, Jeffrey Carter, conductor. Works in progress include a third piano sonata, a “Viola Concerto” and “Requiem Mass for Chorus, Soloists & Orchestra.”

Hagenbuch’s music was featured in Janelle Monae’s commercial for Sonos. “House Party,” (2012).

(At about the 42 second mark in the video)