Skip to content

Leroy Robertson

Leroy Robertson

 

Biography

Composer and educator Leroy Robertson was born on December 21, 1896 in Fountain Green, Utah. His daughter, Marian Robertson Wilson, in her biography of her father relays how, as a young boy, Leroy had an early talent for playing by ear on the family organ. During these hours of amusement he also spun out his own tunes. At the age of ten, Leroy crafted a violin out of objects found on the family farm: a cigar box, wood, and some of his mother’s embroidery thread; the hairs for the whittled bow came from one of the farm mares. In this manner, Leroy grew up, balancing his farm work and herding of the sheep with his passion and drive to create and make music. In the rural Utah town where he grew up there weren’t many opportunities for structured music study. But, Leroy made his own opportunities, just as he had fashioned his own violin.

After completing high school, Leroy headed east to study with George Whitefield Chadwick at New England Conservatory. Other influential teachers in the United States and Europe included Ernest Bloch, Hugo Leichtentritt, and Arnold Schoenberg. Robertson received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Brigham Young University and Ph.D. degree from the University of Southern California. He was chairman of the music department at Brigham Young University from 1925 to 1948 and at the University of Utah from 1948 to 1962.

While chair of the Department of Music at the University of Utah, Robertson worked closely with Maurice Abravanel to make a home for the Utah Symphony on campus, forming a stimulating partnership that laid the foundation for the growth of musical culture within the local and larger community of the state of Utah and the Intermountain West.


Ask the Library

Guide to Spring Semester 2023

smartphone icon   801-581-6691

virtual icon   Virtual Helpdesk, during open hours

 Smart phone email  Email

users   Research Consultation

Tutoring icon   Tutoring Services

music player   McKay Streaming Course Reserve



SPRING 2023 HOURS
Jan. 9 to May 5
Open
Mon. - Thur.
   8am - 8pm
Fri.
   8am-5pm
Sat.
   11am-2pm
Sun.
   Closed

Closed
May 5
College of Fine Arts
Graduaion Day!

Summer Hours
May 8th – August 19th
Mon. - Fri
   9am - 5pm
Sat.
   11am-2pm
Sun.
   Closed

Closed on Hollidays
Memorial Day
   Mon., May 29th
Juneteenth
   Mon., June 19th
Independence Day
   Tues., July 4th
Pioneer Day
   Mon., July 24th


Please check back for updates
.

Events - TBA

Last Updated: 4/17/23