Stewart Robertson in Memoriam
February 20, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENT
It is with great personal and professional sadness that we announce to our Hidden Valley Music Seminars family the passing of Conductor, Stewart John Robertson. He was 75 years of age.
Stewart was born on May 22, 1948 in Glasgow, Scotland. He attended The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Bristol University. He studied piano in London with Denis Matthews and studied conducting with Otmar Suitner at the Mozarteum and with Hans Swarowsky in Vienna.
Stewart's conducting career led him to become the youngest conductor of The Cologne Opera and Music Director of The Zurich Ballet and Scottish Opera Touring Company. In 1979 Hidden Valley brought him to California to conduct The Hidden Valley Chamber Orchestra and he became one of the regular conductors of the Hidden Valley Opera Ensemble. He was the Founding conductor of the Youth Music Monterey Orchestra and also of the Hidden Valley String Orchestra.
In the 80's, Stewart served as conductor of the San Jose Youth Orchestra and began his storied association as Music Director of Glimmerglass Opera. He held that post until 2006 when he was named Music Director Emeritus.
From 1998 to 2009, he served as Music Director of the Florida Grand Opera in Miami. In 2005, Stewart became the Music Director of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra in Florida until 2015, and from 2005 to 2008, he was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Omaha.
Throughout his career, he was featured on numerous broadcasts for the New York City Opera on Live From Lincoln Center. As a writer and a lecturer on music, he was seen and heard on National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service, BBC, and Swiss-Italian radio and television. He also made many recordings, including his Grammy nominated recording of Richard Rodney Bennett's opera The Mines of Sulphur.
Stewart's gift for working with young singers was legendary. He was widely respected as a major contributor to the professional careers of opera singers with whom he worked. His graciousness, brilliance, artistic skills, and intellectual generosity were treasured by thousands of musicians throughout his long career.
Stewart died of complications from Parkinson's Disease and is survived by his wife, Meryl, daughter Keren Dawson-Bowman (husband, David), his son Niel, (wife, Faith) and their children. He will be dearly missed.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated on April 26th at Hidden Valley...time to be announced.