A native of Milwaukee, composer Robert Dusek holds academic degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Colorado-Boulder where he received his doctorate in 1990. His mentors include Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, Sydney Hodkinson, and for piano David Burge and Alfred Mouledous. He is the recipient of Princeton University’s Bearns Prize as well as several A.S.C.A.P. grants and awards. His music has been performed and recorded across the globe, being described as “energetic... colorful... transcendent.” 

Abridged Catalogue of Selected Works

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Solo Piano
Piano Sonata no. 1 (1989)/ (32’)   
Piano Sonata no. 2 (1992/2012)/ (13’) 
Piano Sonata no. 3 (2012)/ (21’) 
Piano Sonata no. 4 (2015)/ (19')
October Songs (2015)/ (8')
Outdoors (2014)/ (11')
Eventide (1987/2014)/ (8’)         
Nocturnes (1985)/ (7')
           
One-Piano Four-Hands   
Autumn Sky (1990-95)/ (35’)
              
Solo Instrument
Travelling (1984)/ (2') - clarinet
...at autumn (2023)/ (3') - viola
Sonata for Harp (2017)/ (14') - harp
Sonata for Solo Bassoon (2014)/ (6') - bassoon
Charcoal (2012)/ (4') - Bb clarinet
Gestures (2004)/ (22') - bass clarinet/ optional dancer
Gray Dawn (1991)/ (4') - Bb clarinet
Passacaglia (1988)/ (7') - 'cello
Entrances III (1987)/ (7') - flute        

Instrument and Piano
Spring is Frozen (2023)/ (8') - A clarinet and piano
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1985)/ (14') - Bb clarinet and piano
Clarinet Sonata no. 2 (2016)/ (16') - Bb clarinet and piano
Of Times Past (2014)/ (3') - violin (or viola) and piano
Two Intermezzi (1995)/ (6') - Bb clarinet and piano
Night Songs (1988)/ (5') - oboe and piano
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Chamber Ensembles
Sometimes (2023)/ (5') - flute choir (piccolo, 3 flutes in C, alto, bass - optional clarinet in A)
Fallow Songs (2023)/ (15') - piano trio (violin, 'cello, piano)
Second Vale (2023)/ (6') - reed quintet (oboe, Bb clarinet, soprano sax, bassoon,  bass clarinet)
Variations on Near the Cross (2019)/ (6') - Bb clarinet, bassoon, horn in F, 'cello, piano
November (2015)/ (7') - flute, Bb clarinet, violin, 'cello, piano)
October (2003)/ (7') - flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, horn in F, bassoon
String Quartet no. 1 (1982/2014)/ (11') - 2 violins, viola, 'cello
String Quartet no. 2 (1989)/ (19') - 2 violins, viola, 'cello
Brass Quintet (1997)/ (10') - 2 trumpets in C, horn in F, trombone, tuba
Trope - Fantasie (1985/2014)/ (7') - 2 flutes in C

Large Ensembles
​Symphony no. 1 (1996)/ (11') - orchestra
Symphony no. 2 (2015)/ (17') - orchestra
Symphony no. 3 (2025)/ (29') - orchestra
Facets (2015)/ (16') - wind ensemble
Chamber Symphony (2022)/ (12') - winds, piano and strings
Leviathan (1991)/ (4') - orchestra
Clarinet Concerto (1987)/ (15') - Bb clarinet and chamber orchestra

Choral
Psalm 134 (2017)/ (5') - S.A.T.B. a cappella
Anastasis (2009)/ (16') - S.A.T.B., soprano solo, clarinet/ bass clarinet, multiple percussion, piano

Ballets
                    Ballets currently not available for download.  Ballet suites coming soon.
Tomorrow's Song or Kari (2024)/ (27') - orchestra
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (2020)/ (30') - chamber ensemble
Kenisis (2019)/ (20') - chamber ensemble

    
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         "Dusek displays exquisite talent with the pen.  With a self-evident knowledge of all the instruments involved, the work is chock-full of rewarding chores."
                                ~Boulder Daily Camera

         "...while not favoring harmonic regions of the most comforting , draws us into his world of night and dream ."
​                               ~Italian review of "Runes"