Robert Stern UMASS-Amherst Music Department Music Theory and Comnposition 1964-2002

Robert Stern (1934-2018) was born in Paterson, New Jersey to his mother, Jesse and his father, Samuel. Robert developed a love for music at an early age when his mother brought Robert to classical music concerts. Robert Stern’s musical talent was recognized during his elementary school years.

Robert Stern received his BA from the University of Rochester followed by an MA from the Eastman School of Music after which Robert entered the Army and was assigned to the award-winning Third Army Band as a musical arranger. Robert Stern also loved playing with his combo, the “Mood Masters“, at officer’s clubs and bars.

Upon discharge from the United States Army, Robert attended UCLA to study music composition with Lukas Foss. Robert Stern returned to Eastman School of Music where Robert was awarded for a Ph.D. in Music Composition.

In addition to Lukas Foss, Robert Stern studied music composition with Louis Mennin, Kent Kennan, Wayne Barlow, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson.

Dr. Robert Stern was recruited in 1964 to teach Music Theory and Music Composition at UMASS-Amherst by Music Department Head, Philip Bezanson.

Dr. Robert Stern served with distinction as an instructor in Music Theory and Music Composition at UMASS-Amherst from 1964-2002.

The Author of this essay, was an instrumental performance major as well as instrumental music education major between 1967 and 1972.

This Author had the privilege of taking multiple courses taught by Dr. Stern between 1969 and 1970. One of these courses was a Music Theory course where the Author earned a ‘B’ grade. The most memorable course that this Author completed revolved around forms in Western music from Bach to the present through the study of scores. The musical forms included but were not restricted to, sonata, rondo, variation, concerto, fugue, and various free designs. By this time, this Author completed an excellent mail order musical composition and arranging course from the Berklee School of Music in Boston and was well prepared for Dr. Stern’s most advanced course. This Author had a particular interest in the Music of the Baroque Era and this particular course involved having the students compose musical compositions in the sonata, rondo, variation, concerto, and fugue in the style of J.S. Bach. This was the only UMASS-Amherst Music Theory and/or Composition course that this Author received an ‘A’.

Dr. Stern had a very enthusiastic teaching style and would become quite animated and cheerful when one or more of his student’s caught onto subject matters that were complex.

Dr. Stern had a particular interest in ‘Atonality‘ as well as ‘Avante Garde‘ musical expression on the Piano. This Author had developed an interest in 20th Century ‘Atonal Music’ and certain types of ‘Atonal’ musical composition as well. On several occasions, after a scheduled music theory class, Dr. Stern spent extra time with this Author demonstrating Piano composition and notational techniques that were specific to both Atonal as well as Avante Garde classical musical themes.

During his 38 years with the UMASS-Amherst Department of Music, Dr. Stern was the recipient of numerous grants, including those from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities and the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund. Dr. Stern was also awarded fellowships from the MacDowell, Millay, and Yaddo Colonies, and awards from ASCAP and the Premio Musicale Citta di Trieste International Competition.

Dr. Robert Stern also received commissions from the Library of Congress McKim Fund, the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, the Manchester International Cello Festival, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dr. Robert Stern’s musical compositions have been recorded on many labels and published by G. Schirmer, Rinaldo Music Press, and Transcontinental Music.

In 1990, Dr. Stern was recognized by UMASS-Amherst with the award of the Faculty Fellowship.

Dr. Stern welcomed to the Amherst area, artists whose lives had been upended by

Hurricane Katrina in late August of 2005. (The Author of this essay rode out Hurricane Katrina at his home in the New Orleans French Quarter and witnessed first hand the enormous devastation that storm caused to the entire Louisiana and Mississippi Coastal Region.)  Dr. Stern learned that the music library of Tulane University had been destroyed by Katrina and donated his entire music library to that institution.

The Music Department at UMASS-Amherst was very fortunate to attract and maintain the services of such an outstanding instructor of Music Theory and Composition as Dr. Robert Stern from 1964-2002.

For additional information on Robert Stern see the following four obituaries:

• Obituary
• Obituary
• Obituary
• Obituary