Robert Elhai

Composer, Orchestrator, Arranger

Minneapolis USA

ROBERT ELHAI is a music composer and an orchestrator for over 130 film scores including Iron Man 3, Thor 2, the third, fourth, and fifth Fast and Furious movies, the third and fourth Batman movies, Across The Universe, The Sixth Sense, the first Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Oscar-winning score for Frida. His other projects include music for the Winesburg Trilogy Project (Untold Lies, Twisted Apples, and Answered Prayers) presented by Nautilus Music Theater at the Minnesota Fringe Festival successively in 2010, 2011, and 2012, C., a musical theatre adaption of Cyrano de Bergerac to be produced in the 2015-6 season at Theater Latte Da, as well as Persephone’s Sister, the final piece in Nautilus’ Ivey-Award–winning Sister Stories. 
As an orchestrator, he is the recipient of Tony and Drama Desk nominee for his work for the Broadway production of The Lion King. He has also done arrangements for Metallica’s Grammy Award-winning “S&M” (He also holds degrees from Yale University, Carleton College and the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.) He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.

LIST OF SELECTED PROJECTS

Theater:

Broadway:

• Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark (additional arrangements) 2011

• The Lion King (Orchestrations and Incidental/Dance Music arrangements) 1997

Off-Broadway/Regional:

• In The Midst Of Things (In Media Res), An Opera Company, 2021

• Love And Other Destinations (orchestrations), SUNY Albany, 2021

• Little Women, incidental music, Jungle Theater (2019), Dallas Theater Center, 2020

• Dirty Business, History Theatre, 2019

• Lord Gordon Gordon (arrangements and orchestrations), History Theatre, 2018

• The Lady With A Lapdog, Fortune's Fool Theater, 2017

• Sweet Land (arrangements and orchestrations), History Theatre, 2017

• Twisted Apples: Stories From Winesburg, Ohio, Nautilus Music Theater, 2017

• A Night in Olympus (arrangements and orchestrations) Illusion Theater, 2016

• C., Theater Latté Da, 2016

• Glensheen (arrangements and orchestrations), History Theater, 2015

• Opinions and Facts: Warren G. Harding and American History from 44 Presidents, Nautilus Music Theater, 2012

• Winesburg Trilogy Project, Minnesota Fringe Festival, 2010-2012

I. Answered Prayers

II. Untold Lies

III. Twisted Apples

• Persephone's Sister  from Sister Stories, Nautilus Music Theater, 2009

• Four Directions from 365 Days/365 Plays, Nautilus Music Theater, 2009

• Understood Betsy, Actor's Playhouse, 2007, Innovative Stages Staged Reading Series, 2005,, in collaboration with Mary Feinsinger

• Camila (orchestrations), Walnut Street Theater, 2001

• The Hidden Sky (orchestrations), Prince Music Theater, 2000

• Sense and Nonsense, Portland and L.A. (1994), Holland and Germany (1993), Theater Stalhouderij, Amsterdam (1992), The Duplex, New York (1990)   

• Have You Tried the Dip?, Nat Horne Theater, 1992 (contrib.)

• Agamemnon, Columbia University, 1989

• Skins of the Money Drum, Yale University, 1986

• Blue Mass, Yale University, 1985

• 1984 Minus Three, Newman Center, Minneapolis, 1981

Readings:

•Dirty Business: A Spy Musical, History Theater (2018)

• C., Theater Latté Da (2013)

• Sunrise Over Graceland, Nautilus Music Theater (2007)

• Asleep on the Wind, BMI Musical Theater Workshop (1992)

• Skins of the Money Drum, Phoenix Theater Ensemble (1991); New York University (1989)

• Evening of One-Acts, incidental music, Circle Rep Theater (1989)

• The Life of Galileo, incidental music, Yale Rep (1989)

• Suicidal Romance, incidental music, Yale University (1986)

• The Girl of the Golden West, incidental music, the Ensemble Company (1985)

• Woyzeck, incidental music (1981), Carleton College

• School For Scandal, incidental music (1980), Carleton College

• The Hostage, incidental music (1980), Carleton College

• I Am Woman, incidental music (1979), Stagedoor Manor

Film:

• Road Kill, original score, dir. Campbell Dalglish (2015)

• Entitled, original score, short student film (2008)

Film Orchestrations listed on separate page

Concert Projects:

• Mass, A Celebration Of Love And Joy by André Thomas (orchestration), 2019

• Jump!, (arrangements of music by Stephen Paulus), Glo with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 2019

• Home for the Holidays (arrangements and additional music), Minnesota Orchestra, 2017-present

• The New Standards with the Minnesota Orchestra (orchestration), 2016

• Our Post Mortem [album], Adam Levy with And The Professors (orchestration), 2013

• Nathander (2011) for string orchestra (premiered at the Detroit Auto Show)

• S&M: Metallica with the San Francisco Orchestra (orchestration), 1999

• The Music of Pete Townsend and The Who (orchestration), 1994

• Trio for Brass (1994) for trumpet, horn, and trombone

• Water Awakening (1993) for trombone and piano

• Days of Joy, Season of Gladness (1992) for mandolin, marimba, and piano

• The Matador with Teeth of Gold (1990) for flute, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, horn,

two trombones, tuba, and percussion

• Canción de Libertad (1989) for flute, two clarinets, horn, cornet, two trombones,

tuba, and percussion

• Song Cycle (1987) for male singer and piano

• Sinfonie Internationale (1987) for chamber orchestra

• Rue Morgue Inductions (1986) for narrator and four trombones, text by Edgar Allan Poe

• Three Movements for Viola and Harpsichord (1986)

• Life and the Man (1986) for string quartet

• Bagatelles (1985) for flute, clarinet, trumpet, cello, and bass

• Symphony (1983) for orchestra

• Sonata (1983) for violin and piano

• Four Duets (1983) for flute, oboe, clarinet, and viola

• The River Song (1983) for voice and piano

• Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day? (1982) for baritone and viola, text by William Shakespeare

• Muservitch Concerto (1982) for orchestra

• Woyzeck Suite (1982) for mixed ensemble

• Untitled (1982) for flute and percussion

• Three Songs on Poems by e. e. cummings (1981) for tenor and piano

• For Susan (1981) for alto flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello

• The Land is Barren (1981) for choir, text by Antonio Machado

• at the end of this street (1981) for choir and piano, text by e.e. cummings

• Quintet (1981) for woodwind quintet

• Psalm 148 (1980) for choir

• Quintet for Modern Dance (1980) for woodwind quintet

• Prelude for Organ (1979)

• As Long As You're Here Tomorrow (1979) for voice and piano, lyrics by John Elhai

• String Quartet in C# Minor (1978)

• Nocturne in Gb Major (1977) for piano

• Night of Love (1976) for choir

• Tarantella (1976) for cello and piano

• Camp Swig Blues (1973) for voice and piano, lyrics by John Elhai

OTHER

• Eliance Main Theme, jingle for Eliance (2004)

• Jingle for Beazley Realty, New Haven (1987)