Robert Mari lives in Shawnigan Lake, BC. Canada. He was born in Winnipeg Manitoba in 1958. He started playing the piano when he was 3 years old and by 5 he played some public performances. After 2 years in kindergarten he went to Woodhaven School until 1967 when the family moved to West Vancouver BC, Canada. In grade 5 in Westcot Elementary School he started to learn the Violin rekindling his love of music. He studied piano with a nun in West Vancouver at St. Anthony’s school and almost quit since the experience was so negative. Eventually going to Sentinel High school he conducted his first orchestra when he was 13 and found his love of music again. When not conducting he played piano (studying with Dr. Dan Bristow and Joyce Rawlings) and bassoon (studied with Christopher Millard). By 15 he not only conducted the school orchestra but the Russian Orchestra of Vancouver and the Victoria Balalaika Orchestra (Victoria BC).
Eventually going to UBC in Vancouver and attaining a B Mus focusing on Orchestral and Choral Conducting with minors in Double Bass, Bassoon, Voice and Piano. He temporarily took over the UBC Symphony Orchestra when it’s conductor, Douglas Talney, took ill.
After UBC he spent one year in a special program with Vancouver Community College studying choral conducting with Jon Washborn.
