Rob Schwimmer

Teaches at Pioneer Works

"Theremin master" The New York Times
Praised by The New York Times for his “virtuosity, magic and humor,” Schwimmer performs masterfully on the piano, theremin, Haken Continuum fingerboard, clavioline, organ, claviola and other, less definable instruments and sound machines. 
Rob is one of the top theremin virtuosos in the world and was recently featured on CBS Sunday Morning,  the Leonard Lopate show on WNYC, Fox News, the popular PBS series "History Detectives," and Al Jazeera America TV as well as in The NY Times and Wall St Journal. He is a founding member and co-director of The NY Theremin Society. His appearances as theremin soloist include The Orchestra of St. Luke's at Caramoor (which included Rob's theremin arrangement of Bernard Herrmann's "Scene d'Amour" from Vertigo,) The Little Orchestra at Lincoln Center, with Bobby McFerrin at Carnegie Hall and Simon & Garfunkel's world tours (including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary show at Madison Square Garden) where he also played keyboards and sang. In addition to his CD Theremin Noir (with Uri Caine and Mark Feldman,) Rob has performed as featured thereminist on Trey Anastasio's latest album Traveler, Matthew Barney’s epic movie Cremaster 3, the 2009 R.W. Goodwin feature Alien Trespass, CBS television series Now and Again and A&E's Breakfast With the Arts. He was chosen to perform at a sold out concert in the Disney Concert Hall (LA) as part of the legendary 10 Piece Theremin Orchestra. Rob was recently interviewed by Faith Salie (Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me) for CBS Sunday Morning and The NY Theremin Society concert was filmed as part of the same segment about the resurgence of the theremin. Schwimmer premiered a new silent movie soundtrack (The Fall of the House of Usher--1928) featuring live theremin at The NY Theremin Society's recent residency at Bucknell University and given its NYC premiere at The Tribeca New Music Festival. He has just performed as featured thereminist with  The Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, Boston for a new film w. live orchestra project to Murnau's black and white classic Nosferatu.

Founded by Suzanne Fiol and Musician/composer Dorit Chrysler, the NY THEREMIN SOCIETY launched its concert series December 2nd, 2005, bringing together skilled interpreters on Theremin, each presenting their solo works and joining in an experimental Theremin Orchestra.  Those concert series took place at Issue Project Room and sold out regularly. The NY THEREMIN SOCIETY started to serve as a platform for Thereminists and enthusiasts and its mission statement evolved; namely to exchange, inspire, and educate, as well as to demonstrate the surprising variety of different approaches that this relatively young and unique instrument has to offer in the contemporary world of music.  The NY THEREMIN SOCIETY was instrumental in the recreation of a Ten Piece Theremin Orchestra performing at the LA Disney Hall (emulating the first theremin orchestra concert taking place at Carnegie Hall in 1930). The NY THEREMIN SOCIETY then began a continuing series of concerts at Joe's Pub featuring an international cast of some of the world's best thereminists.  The NY THEREMIN SOCIETY has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, Fox News, Al Jazeera TV, The Wall Street Journal, and many other news outlets.  Also, the SOCIETY offers adult and children's theremin workshops.