Robert Tomaro – Symphonic Conductor, Composer, Guitarist, Actor, Author
Biographical Information

Robert Tomaro is currently in his twentieth year as Music Director and conductor of the Beloit Janesville Symphony in Wisconsin. In recognition of his distinguished tenure, he was appointed Music Director for Life in 2010.
He holds a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Music Composition from New York University and a Bachelor of Science degree in theater from Northwestern University.

Robert Tomaro's conducting engagements include concerts and recordings with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Slovak Radio Orchestra, The Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra of Poland, the Rockford Symphony, the Dubuque Symphony, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Lima Symphony, the Fairbanks Symphony and the Santa Cruz County Symphony Orchestra. He has toured throughout Scandinavia, England, France, and Eastern Europe.

In 2003, he was honored to be chosen by Maestro Christoph Eschenbach for The Christoph Eschenbach International Masterclass with the Krakow Sinfonietta in Krakow, Poland.
A prolific composer and arranger, he has been nominated for two Grammy Awards by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in the category of “Best Vocal and Instrumental” arrangement for the title composition of his new CD ‘Broken Angel’ with rock artist Susan Aquila, who is a virtuosic electric violinist and vocalist. The CD has also been nominated for a Grammy as “Best Rock Album of the year”.

He has composed and recorded two Christmas songs that have enjoyed worldwide success: “Don’t Open ‘till Christmas” and “Our Own Christmas.” In addition to worldwide radio play, the songs have been licensed by numerous corporate entities, including Walmart, McDonald’s, Subway and the Hilton Hotel chain.

An internationally respected jazz and rock guitarist, he has appeared in concert with such jazz icons as Stephane Grapelli, Bill Evans and Charles Mingus. In New York City, he has performed in the orchestras of the original Broadway productions of many shows, including Evita, The Lion King, Les Miserables, The Who’s Tommy, Dancin’ and Barnum. Currently he is the musical director for Rock artist Susan Aquila.

He is an author and arts correspondent for the Rock River Times newspaper and the Classical Music Editor for Cashbox Magazine. His short stories have appeared in Tribes, the literary Quarterly of Manhattan and have won awards by the journal of Rockford Writers Guild.

His first novel, an historical vampire thriller entitled “Dark Whisper,” was published by Etopia Press in 2016. His latest novel, a Cold War Spy thriller entitled “131 Gracie Street”, will be published in 2020.

As an actor, he has toured nationally with Broadway shows such as “Lady Be Good” with the Goodpeed Opera Company, and “I Love My Wife”, starring the Smothers Brothers. His film credits include Slime City, a horror feature film and in 2010 he starred as Max Bialystock in a regional theatrical production of The Producers.

Robert Tomaro
Honors and Awards

• Double Grammy Award Nominee 2015
• Double Grammy Award Nominee 2014
• New Jersey Council on the Arts -grant recipient 1998
• Elected to Pi Kappa Lambda,the National Honors Society in Music Education 1992
• Elected to Kappa Delta Pi, 1992 the National Honors Society in Education
• Elected as an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors of L’Association Nationale de Musique de Chambre, Paris, France 1991
• New Jersey Council on the Arts Award for Symphonic Composition for Celestial Navigation for symphony orchestra– CD recordings on MMC Records and Capstone Records, Conducted the concert premiere at the Hayden Planetarium, New York City, 1995

Contact Robert Tomaro on Facebook Messenger, on his website: www.Roberttomaro.com, or at rob.tomaro51@gmail.com