Biography
Robbie Ellis is a composer, music director, broadcaster, comedy songmaker, and other.
Born on Auckland’s North Shore, he studied Composition at the University of Auckland with Eve de Castro-Robinson, John Elmsly and John Coulter. He’s had works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Saxcess, 175 East, the Jade String Quartet, Classical Revolution Chicago, and a host of other ensembles. He was the University of Otago Mozart Fellow in 2012, as well as the Auckland Youth Orchestra Composer-in-Residence.
Robbie is also a comedy songmaker: he has released an album, Pumpkins, on which he orchestrated his songs for members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He performs his songs from the piano in cabaret, sketch and stand-up comedy settings.
He presents and produces classical music radio. He got his start with RNZ Concert in Wellington and Auckland, winning two New Zealand Radio Awards for feature programmes about the NZSO. He now works for 98.7 WFMT in Chicago.
He’s also a music director for improv, sketch comedy and musical theatre: he’s written several original musicals, countless sketch shows, and played probably thousands of improv performances. He now lives in Chicago where he performs and teaches at a bunch of venues including the legendary Second City.
ROBERT THOMAS ELLIS = TOLERABLE RIMSHOTS. Anagrams tell all.
Composed (77)
for musical performer(s) numbering between 1 and ∞ inclusive and some munter in the audience, 30s
for clarinet, bass clarinet, bass trombone, cello and double bass, 8m
Recordings (4)
Resources (6)
Performances (2)
__Robbie Ellis__ | Composer and musical comedian __Mina Zikri__ | Conductor __Oistrakh Sym...
On a return visit from the USA, Robbie performs a solo set of his new comedy songs.