Born in Long Beach, California in 1956, Robert Debbaut began to compose at age fifteen. As an undergraduate at Missouri State University he studied composition and orchestration with the noted American wind composer, Claude T. Smith (1932-1987). Under Mr. Smith's guidance, Debbaut composed two works, "Spring," for symphony orchestra, and "Variations" for brass quintet. While an undergraduate Debbaut also arranged works for trumpet ensembles, brass ensembles and the Missouri State University Marching Band. Robert Debbaut returned to composing in 2007. His "Great New City" for string orchestra was premiered under his direction in Russia by the Great Novgorod Chamber Orchestra. Five new works are awaiting premiere, including "OK," (Solo Cello or viola or Tenor Saxophone, String Orchestra and Piano), "Country Dances" (for String Orchestra), "Bug Wars" (for Brass and Strings), "Pana Jama" (for solo timpani, amplified violins, mallet percussion and piano) and Flight," (Classical Chamber Orchestra) as well as various new arrangements. Recently performed arrangements include "Three Scenes from Madama Butterfly," (Puccini), "Prelude, Night Scene and Vienna Finale" from Don Giovanni (Mozart), Monastatos' aria from Act II of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Glinka's "Kamarinskaya" for violin and piano as well as variations on Mozart's "Komm, lieber Mai" for viola and piano and flute and piano. Robert Debbaut holds three degrees in music including the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral and Operatic Conducting from the University of Michigan School of Music. He also studied at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Oregon Bach Festival, the David Oistrakh Festival in Estonia, the International Conducting Workshop in Prague and as an official observer at rehearsals of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez and many others. His teachers and mentors include the Neeme Järvi, Helmuth Rilling and the late Gustav Meier and Maurice Abravanel. He has held academic positions at the University of Utah, the Lawrence Conservatory and the University of Minnesota. As a guest conductor Robert Debbaut has appeared with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Filharmonia Sudecka, Hartford Symphony, Kharkiv Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, North Czech Philharmonic, Great Novgorod Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony of Guatemala, Shanghai Conservatory Orchestra, Utah Symphony and the Yaroslavl Symphony among many others.