Robert Luke Benedict is a pianist and composer born in 1996, who studied piano performance at Eastman School of Music and Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied under Rebecca Penneys and Michael Lewin. He also earned degrees in music composition at Lynn University under the tutelage of Thomas McKinley. As a pianist, Luke has had a variety of experiences ranging from orchestral and chamber settings to soloistic performances. He is a commonly commissioned composer in the South Florida area, and has performed his own music across the United States both as a soloist, and as a part of the chamber group,‘The Muse Duo’, consisting of himself and classical guitarist Collin Holloway, touring locations such as New York, South Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Luke combines the musical languages of the past and present to evoke several different idioms while still maintaining accessibility and originality. These languages range from the Baroque and Classical periods, to the more modern sensibilities of Rock, Serialism, and Minimalism. Rhythmic drive is also a prominent force in his works and takes center stage alongside unique and coloristic instrumentation, pointed motivic direction, and memorable melodic content. Alongside maintaining accessibility for audiences, a primary motivation of his compositional process lies in the enjoyment of the performers who present his works. Not only does Luke facilitate a musical experience that will appeal to a variety of audiences, but he also ensures his music will be gratifying for the performer to execute.