Lynn University is proud to announce Dean of the Lynn Conservatory of Music Dr. Jon Robertson, as Keynote Speaker for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Tuesday, May 7.
Maestro and educator, Dr. Jon Robertson inspires students, faculty and staff to be their best in everything they do. A highly sought-after lecturer and motivational speaker, Robertson’s career spans 70 years as a musician and scholar. At the age of nine, he made his first piano concert debut in New York City’s Town Hall. As a child prodigy pianist, Robertson continued to concertize throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Europe.
Already considered an established musician at a young age, Robertson was awarded a full scholarship for six consecutive years from The Juilliard School, where he went on to earn his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. There, he not only studied his major, piano, he also learned choral and orchestral conducting. After graduation, he was appointed chair of the music department at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. By 1972, Robertson became chair for the Thayer Conservatory of Music at Atlantic Union College, where he instituted the Thayer Preparatory Division and started the Thayer Conservatory Orchestra.
From 1974–2004, Robertson served as music chair at the University of California in Los Angeles. There, the department gained national and international recognition, attracting world-renowned faculty and highly gifted students.
In 2004, Robertson was appointed Dean of the Lynn University Conservatory of Music. As dean, professor, musician and orchestral conductor, he offers his commitment to excellence, vision and embracing wisdom to the larger Lynn family and his faculty, students and community. Throughout his 20-year tenure at Lynn, Robertson led the conservatory to join the ranks of other major conservatories and institutions of music, such as Juilliard, Eastman and Curtis—boasting a world-renowned faculty of performers and scholars.
“Jon inspires others to be their best,” said Lynn President Kevin M. Ross. “He ignites confidence and creativity in our musicians and elevates their talents for wonderful performances by our soloists and Philharmonia. We’re fortunate to have him as dean of the conservatory for 20 years now, sharing his passion for music and his love for Lynn with students and the community.”
Along with his broad history of academic accomplishments, Robertson leads a profound and respected career as a symphonic conductor. He served as music director for the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra in Norway and for the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. Robertson has also been an international guest conductor for the San Francisco Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in Norway, Beijing Central Philharmonic, Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, Bratislava Chamber Orchestra, Fairbanks Symphony, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Oakland East Bay Symphony, and the Walla Walla Symphony Orchestra. Robertson was also a regular guest conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Egypt and the principal guest conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Yerevan.
Lynn will host its 2024 Commencement on Tuesday, May 7 at 1 p.m. in the Palm Beach County Convention Center located at 650 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. The event will be streamed live on Lynn University's YouTube Channel and a recording will remain available after the ceremony. For more information on this year’s celebration, please visit lynn.edu/commencement.
