Robert Schulz , born in 1950, is a guitarist, mandolinist, composer, pianist, accordionist, teacher and conductor and has written much music for plucked strings. In 1976 he founded the West Australian Mandolin Orchestsra and is it's present conductor.
He has a degree in Music Education from the University of Western Australia and is a full writing member of the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA). Robert has been an active member of the Federation of Australasian Mandolin Ensembles (FAME) since its inception in 1979.
Many of his works have been recorded by orchestras in Germany, Holland, Greece, Denmark, Japan, America and Australia. He is one of a growing number of composers who are specialising in plucked string sounds. Robert has received several commissions the latest (2006) being from the Australian Mandolin Music Association. This work is written for large orchestra, Oboe, Timpani and Percussion. It is based on the notion of the seasons as understood by Indigenous Australians. (Check catalogue for details).
Scores have been published by Joachim Trekel and Vogt and Fritz both of Germany.
Robert was an active member of the well known Perth group "StringyBach" and has played in many duo, trio and quartet combinations. He is the founding member of a new group the "Bakkerus Quartet" playing music especially written for mandolin quartet.
As a teacher, Robert has completed a Mandolin Tutor for adult beginners with a distinctive Australian bent, using material from traditional songs to original pieces.
Latest Projects - 1.Robert organised a tour to France and Germany for the West Australian Mandolin Orchestra for May/June 2010. The orchestra was invited to perform at the BDZ Festival in Bruschal Germany in June. The music program consisted of all Australian compositions and featured works commissioned especially for the tour.2. Robert's new Mandolin Tutor "The Beginner's Way to the Mandolin' has been published in Britain by Astute Music. It suits the younger beginner or the older beginner without previous music experience.
Future Projects - Robert is part of the committee helping to organise the Perth International Mandolin Festival to be staged in July 2012. This week long Festival boasts the largest gathering of mandolinists in the country and will feature new works by Australian composers.
