CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT – Robert Kahn
- tiakanigan2
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 25
About the Music Director Search
This season, the Great Falls Symphony is thrilled to welcome six outstanding finalists as part of our search for the next music director. Each candidate will conduct a concert and spend time in our community, sharing not only their artistry but their vision for what the Symphony could mean in our town.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Great Falls,” says Executive Director Hillary Shepherd. “We invite everyone–patrons, musicians, and first-time concert goers alike–to come experience each conductor and help us imagine the next chapter of our Symphony’s future.”
Click below to see the published spotlights for the other candidates!
Meet Robert Kahn
Balance, Precision, and Expression
For Robert Kahn, conducting is a deeply personal journey, one that combines analytical thinking, expressivity, and a lifelong fascination with sound. Born in the U.S. and raised in Holland, Robert grew up in a home filled with music. “There was always someone playing cello or piano in the house,” he recalls. “Music was just part of everyday life. We often went to classical concerts in Amsterdam.” He connected with music himself at age seven when his mother chose clarinet for him. He quickly found joy in it. He also played piano at home and later studied both instruments formally.
His interest in conducting was sparked during a visit to a music store. While shopping for clarinet music, Robert picked up a full orchestral score of Mahler’s First Symphony. “I fell in love with the idea of seeing the whole picture, every instrument, analyzing the structure, and learning about the history of the piece,” he says. That moment ignited his passion for conducting and a desire to understand music, not just from a single part, but from the conductor’s broader lens.
His love for both music and science led him to consider university in the United States. “In Holland you can’t really get a blended degree like you can in the U.S.,” he explains. “You would have to choose to attend either a conservatory or a university. I wanted to do both and explore the world, so naturally that led me to move here.” Robert pursued a double degree at Johns Hopkins University and the Peabody Conservatory, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance.
After completing his undergraduate degrees, he decided to stay in the U.S. for the culture.
He reflects on the differences between the U.S. and Europe, “In Holland there is this saying, ‘handel maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg’–it translates to something like ‘Just act normal, that’s already crazy enough.’ It speaks to how you are supposed to blend in and not be too far out of the norm. Here, there is such an incredible variety and diversity of peoples and thoughts. There is a strong sense of optimism here. The idea of being able to dream big, embrace ambition, and reach personal goals. And it’s so supportive, everyone is rooting for one another.”
Robert continued his training at the Mannes School of Music in New York, earning both a Master’s degree and a professional studies diploma in orchestral conducting, studying with David Hayes. There, he developed not only technical mastery but also the physical and emotional nuance of conducting.
Sharing more about what goes into conducting, he says, “It’s about more than patterns. The real thing to learn is how to convey how you want the orchestra to sound–connection, separation, loud, soft, communicating where the phrase goes. It’s how you hold your body, how you move your arm, shoulder, elbow, wrist. You learn that even the smallest motion, the tension in your arm, or how your wrist moves, changes how the orchestra responds.”
Robert then earned a coveted conducting fellowship at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, one of the most prestigious programs in the world. “At Curtis, we were working with some of the best young musicians anywhere,” he says. “It allowed me to focus right away on musical interpretation and expression, not just the basics.” His experience at Curtis also included conducting family concerts and helping develop educational programs. “One of the most rewarding things I did was a young people’s concert I designed,” he says. “We demonstrated instruments and even invited kids to come up and conduct the orchestra themselves. You could see how empowered they felt.”
After Curtis, Robert joined the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he continues to serve as assistant conductor, preparing and conducting opera productions, an environment that demands collaboration and real-time flexibility. “Opera conducting is a different world,” he explains. “You have your vision, but you also have to accommodate a singer’s breath or a moment of emotional tension, as well as working with the stage manager to make sure the performance will connect with the audience. It's about listening, adjusting, and supporting your collaborators.”
He’s also worked with choirs, including assisting on Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Messiah with the New York Philharmonic. “Working with choirs is one of the most direct ways to connect as a conductor,” he says. “You’re communicating with people who are their instrument. There’s something magical about 80 to 100 people breathing and singing together as one.”
When he’s not on the podium, Robert enjoys a quiet life just outside the city with his partner, their rescue poodle mix named Pretzel, and two guinea pigs, Pamina “Pam” and Petal. His girlfriend rides horses, and Robert enjoys bringing a book or score to the barn while she trains. Robert also enjoys tennis, basketball, rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles and watching the French Open.
His favorite piece? Without hesitation: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.
“It’s everything,” he says. “Mahler once said a symphony should contain the entire world. This one has heaven, hell, and everything in between. The final movement–whether you're religious or not–makes you feel something greater than yourself. Even just for a moment.”
What can you expect from Robert’s upcoming program with the Great Falls Symphony?
“It’s a beautiful Valentine’s day program,” he says. “There are pieces everyone knows and one almost nobody does–but when they hear it, they’ll be amazed.” The concert explores love in all its forms, and features a rising star soloist who Robert is thrilled to share the stage with. “I’ll be right next to Matthew on the podium for that piece,” he says. “It’s going to be something special.”
Get to Know All of Our Finalist Music Director Candidates
This is just the beginning of our journey to finding the next music director of the Great Falls Symphony. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing each of the candidates, all of whom bring something special to the table. Stay tuned for more candidate spotlights, and don't miss the opportunity to see these outstanding conductors in action during their upcoming performances.
To read their professional biographies or to learn more about the upcoming season and buy season tickets, click below.
All of our Music Director Finalist Candidates are sponsored by The Gibson Hotel, City Motor Company, and Rib & Chop House–Great Falls!
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