The Conservatory of Music at Lynn

Sitting Down with Dr. Rust

By Katie Zivley, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Having been established over 25 years ago, The Conservatory of Music at Lynn University supports about 100 students and offers many opportunities.

Dr. Roberta Rust is one of the many incredible professors in the Conservatory of Music who specializes in applied piano and chamber music. Not only has she received the Deanne and Gerald Gitner and Family Excellence in Teaching Award at Lynn, but she has also become the Artistic Ambassador for the United States and was the winner of the Organization of American States Competition.

“Lynn University’s Conservatory is a very important collection of very experienced musicians and faculty,” said Dr. Rust, a professor in the Conservatory of Music. The students who are advanced and the alumni who graduate stay in the area, with some populating the Boca Symphonia.”

From Oct. 18th to the 19th, Rust was invited to perform at a music residency at the University of Houston at the Moore School of Music. During this event, there were three activities: A solo recital that she played on Oct. 18th, a workshop for the composition majors the next day, and a piano masterclass for the piano majors later that evening.

“When I was there, a number of our alumni who now live in Houston came to the concert,” said Rust. “One has a faculty position there, one is a freelancer, and then we have two former students of Lynn currently enrolled in the University of Houston graduate music program.”

The Conservatory of Music at Lynn has connected students with great opportunities, such as playing in local orchestras, like the Palm Beach Symphony and the Symphonies of America. These two opportunities were labeled as an internship within their college career.

“We have a very special place here where we are able to recruit and attract very high-level young classical musicians from all over the world,” said Rust. “It’s a small school which gives us the opportunity to work with the students intensively, and they have a lot of performance opportunities within the curriculum, so you can really watch them grow and develop.”

If interested in studying and performing at Lynn, students must complete their admission application and then schedule their audition. For more information or questions, contact music@lynn.edu or call (561) 237-9001.