The Official Website of Robert Bigley

VIVALDI THIS WEEKEND!

2011-11-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

CHESS

2011-07-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Rob will be playing the role of Walter de Courcey in Prima Theatre's upcoming production of "CHESS in Concert." It is a fascinating show - a sort of minor "hit" on Broadway and the West End in the 1980's with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, formerly of ABBA, and with lyrics by Tim Rice. You might remember the hit song "One Night in Bangkok" from the original production. The cast is amazing - some of the very best musical theater professionals in the area - so if you are in or around Lancaster this October, come catch a show!

Singin' in the Snow

2011-01-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

Rob is currently conducting "Singin' in the Rain" at Lancaster Bible College.

Here he is with the leads from the show on WJTL.

For tickets, please visit events.lbc.edu

Old "Good News"

2010-10-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

In the realm of the information age, this is old news. However, considering how often I update this site, this is practically a "scoop." Adam Young is a successful pop artist - basically a one man band called "Owl City." He is also a Christian. What I like about his recent blog post is not simply that it reveals his faith, but that it reveals his faith simply. No flashy TV evangelism here. Just a man whose cup overflowed with the Gospel. Well done, Adam.

http://owlcityblog.com/2010/10/25/my-hope-is-found/

Scattered Pianos

2010-06-23T04:41:00.001-07:00

Just further proof that Lancaster is the coolest city this side of Seattle..."Keys for the City" - dozens of decorated upright pianos placed in various locations throughout downtown. This video features several Lancastrian pianists including my friend, Matt Monticchio, at the 33 second point (on the left).

The Pirates have left the building!

2010-02-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Cast and Crew of Lancaster Bible College's "Pirates of Penzance"

I just finished conducting a three week run of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance." It was the college's first operetta, and was a great success with over 3,000 people seeing the 6 shows. Exciting things are happening at LBC including a new Musical Theatre Emphasis under the Vocal Performance Major. Oh, and it's snowing (again).

Chamber Singers Photo

2009-12-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite promo photos ever. This is actually of last year's group but most of them are still around.

Vocal Sphere

2009-11-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Rob and Kendra are singing with a new chamber ensemble called "Vocal Sphere." It is one of several "Sphere" chamber groups founded by composer, pianist, and countertenor Matt Monticchio. Vocal Sphere's first public performance (beside a Sunday morning at Matt's church, Wheatland Presbyterian) was for Lancaster Bible College's "Faculty and Friends Concert" last week. Although the acoustics of the Good Shepherd Chapel don't exactly lend themselves to Renaissance vocal music, the group was very well received.

Here is Vocal Sphere performing "O quam gloriosum" at the Faculty and Friends Concert. Rob is singing bass and Kendra is singing alto. Enjoy!

Our National Anthem

2009-09-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

The LBC Chamber Singers were recently rehearsing the US National Anthem for upcoming sporting events. I took this as an opportunity to share that I greatly prefer straight-forward performances of it rather than the overly vocal-riffed versions we commonly hear today.

This promo video from the US Army is the best performance of the "official" arrangement that I've found. Enjoy.

"Please rise..."

Flash Mob

2009-09-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

OK, this is old news by now, but I still think that the whole "flash mob" concept is one of the coolest cultural phenomenons of this decade. I actually get a little misty eyed at the idea of dozens of disparate people joining together in one, brief, unified moment. And hey, this one happened in Seattle, so it's got that going for it!

Skydiver

2009-09-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

I noticed that my blog had an enormous number of views over the past twenty four hours. Knowing that I had not done anything THAT noteworthy this past week, I thought I should Google my name to see what was up. I found the sad story of another Robert Bigley from the San Francisco Bay Area who died in a skydiving accident this week. You can read the article here:

http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/2180582.html

My deepest condolences to his friends and family.

They Live!

2009-09-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, to be honest, I already knew this. But, I just received a very nice email from Nate Bachhuber (great name), who works for the King's Singers informing me that the King's Singers do, indeed, still exist. Furthermore, they won a Grammy this year, which means that they must still sound great! Whether or not they are still clever, however, you'll have to judge for yourself - www.kingssingers.com.

King's Singers

2009-09-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

I stumbled accross this old video of the King's Singers. They were, by far, the best a cappella group in the world back in the day. Very clever stuff - enjoy!

Rob in the Paper

2009-07-02T08:06:00.001-07:00

Rob was recently interviewed for the local newspaper. You can read the article here:
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/235822

LBC Chorale on Youtube

2009-06-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

On the last day of the 2009 school year, Rob conducted the LBC Chorale and Chamber singers for a last minute video recording of some their favorite songs from the year. They turned out well enough that we decided to post them on Youtube. Here is the first one. Enjoy!

Two Shows in Two Months!

2009-02-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

Rob is directing two shows in the next two months - The Music Man with CLCHM in early March and Little Women with LBC in Early April. Oh, and he is taking the LBC Chorale and Chamber Singers on tour to New England in between the two productions. Yes, he is crazy, thanks for asking.

Here are a few photos from Music Man Rehearsals. Thanks to Ned Bustard for sending these.

Rob teaching Gracie Shinn how to say "Tommy Djilas did it! Tommy Djilas did it!"

Showing Marian how "My White Knight" should REALLY be sung.

Trouble in River City!

Magnificat

2008-11-09T21:11:00.001-08:00

Rob will be conducting Bach's Magnificat on Sunday, November 16th. He is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with his new students - the LBC Chorale and Chamber Singers - as well as with one of his favorite "old" students - Becca (Mason) Kreutz, who sang under him at SCC before finishing at Wheaton. Becca will be singing the Mezzo arias in the Magnificat and will give a lecture recital at LBC's Worship and Performing Arts Forum on Friday morning.

What a week this will be!

Ah...Gene Kelly

2008-07-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

My 7-year-old daughter just finished her first year of tap class (she started a year younger than I did, so she already has a head start), and I wanted to inspire her with some great tap videos. Of course, I started with my hero...Gene Kelly - the ultimate triple, or is it quadruple (see video), threat!

This is awe-inspiring...the scene starts a little slow, but the dance break is worth the wait. Enjoy!

On Choosing Worship Songs

2008-04-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

I am taking advantage of being sick today by listening to sermons from my favorite preachers. Listening to one by Alistair Begg right now from Psalm 32. In teaching on v. 7 "..you surround me with shouts (songs) of deliverance" he quotes Alec Motyer's book "Look to the Rock: An Old Testament Background to Our Understanding of Christ." It drives home the weight of responsibility that our young worship leaders will be carrying as they graduate from LBC and enter their careers. Motyer says:

"When truth gets into a creed or a hymn-book, it becomes the confident possession of the whole church."

Begg then adds:
"As a church sings, so a church will live."

Wow.

One of the most important habits that I developed during my internship under Dan Perrin at CBC, was going through new worship songs with a fine tooth comb so as to root out "loose" doctrine. Begg's sermon underscores the importance of that process.

As we choose songs for worship, we are steering the very creed of our congregation!

Sobering stuff.

Back to blowing my nose.

Rob

Lancaster Bible College Chamber Singers

2008-04-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

The LBC Chamber Singers

Rob started this group in the Fall of 2007. They perform a wide variety of sacred a cappella music. Currently, their repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the 21st Century - from World Music to Motets. For more information, visit LBC's website www.lbc.edu.