Robert Kelly (composer)

J. Robert Kelly (September 26, 1916 in Clarksburg West Virginia – July 4, 2007 in Urbana, Illinois) was an American composer, composition teacher, and violinist.

After the world premiere of The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Gibson Morrissey in Clarksburg, Kelly began to write his own works.

Kelly decided to go back to New York with his high school companion, Raymond Castello who was studying at Juilliard at the time.

Lundquist was hired on as the new choral conductor, but he was also a composer and Kelly quickly began studying composition with him.

[10] During his time at the University of Illinois, Kelly's completed list of compositions grew and his work matured.

[11] In the fall of 1964, Kelly had a two semester appointment as Associate Member of the University of Illinois Center for Advanced Study.

Kelly was to begin work on a full length dramatic opera, which gave creation to The White Gods.