About Robert Ragoonanan

Robert S. Ragoonanan is a graduate of Luther College (B.A. in Music) and Bowling Green State University (M.M. in Orchestral Conducting). Robert has studied conducting with many well-known instructors such as Dr. Emily Freeman Brown, Alexander Polyanichko, Ovidiu Balan, Neil Thompson, Dr. Scott Weiss, and others, and keyboards with Frederick DeHaven, Dr. Laura Melton, Dr. John F. Strauss, and Dr. Jessica Paul.

He has found success as a conductor across the United States and Europe, conducting choirs, orchestras, new music groups, and wind ensembles. In 2023 he was one of the recipients of the Advocate for Choral Excellence award from the Minnesota American Choral Directors Association, and he received Honorable Mention at the 2022 Orquestra de Camara de Cascais e Oerias Conducting Competition. 

In 2025 Robert conducted the Michigan premiere of Dominick DiOrio’s Weaver of Eternities and the world premiere of Justin Rito’s Magnificat, and in 2026 conducted the Michigan premiere of Kiegan Ryan’s Cedar Flute Concerto, all at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, MI, USA. In 2026 he also conducted Ola Gjeilo’s Song of the Universal and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs at Westminster, and has enjoyed coaching the chorus for West Michigan Opera Project’s 2026 production of Puccini’s La bohème. Additionally, Robert recently finished an extensive recording project conducting Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra members, along with jazz instrumental and vocal soloists on a jazz/classical crossover album featuring the music of composer Ted Olsen. This critically-acclaimed album, Violette, is available now for purchase and on streaming services.

Robert is also a sought-after solo and collaborative pianist, harpsichordist, and voice coach. Recent performances include Sarah Kirkland Snider’s The Currents, Kiegan Ryan’s Memories of Love, Carlos Guastaviono’s Suite Argentina, and Franz Schubert’s Sonata in A Major, D. 959. 

Additionally, Robert has worked as an organist across the Midwest. Recent performances include César Franck’s 3 Pièces pour grand orgue and the Michigan premiere of Christopher Churcher’s This Shining Night. His organ recordings of Sharon Willis’ Agora Suite and Brooke Joyce’s Four Advent Meditations were broadcast nationally on MPR’s Pipedreams radio program in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Robert is looking forward to premiering a new work he commissioned this fall, Antiphons by composer Brooke Joyce.

Robert is currently the Minister of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, where he conducts three of the five choirs and administrates the rest of the department including two bell choirs, a wind ensemble, and a festival orchestra. Learn more at robertsragoonanan.com.