LAROB X ACO

In this pivotal leadership role, LaRob will guide ACO’s national EarShot composer advancement initiatives, which include readings, residencies, commissions, professional development, publishing, and recording. In partnership with orchestras across the Americas and the world, service organizations, ACO’s publishing partner Boosey & Hawkes, artist managers, and a deep network of composers at every stage, EarShot builds and sustains equitable frameworks that empower the next generation of artists shaping American orchestral music.

A visionary curator, speaker, and founder of the nonprofit Hearing in Color, LaRob brings a decade of experience amplifying historically excluded voices across classical music. His collaborative work with institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and WFMT, along with his leadership of the 2025 Ear Taxi Festival, positions him at the forefront of a national movement redefining whose stories are told on concert stages.

“The underscoring of all my work asks the question—What is American classical music? And how do we build systems—institutional, artistic, and cultural—that align with the truth that its development and advancement requires the voices of many?” says LaRob. “My transition into this role with American Composers Orchestra allows me to take an active part in bolstering necessary and equitable systems so all contributors see themselves reflected and valued at every step.”

As Director of Composer Advancement, LaRob will work closely with ACO’s Artistic Director, President & CEO, composers, partners, and community stakeholders to evolve and expand ACO’s composer pipeline programs. From early career mentorship to high-profile commissions, LaRob’s work will help cultivate a vibrant and inclusive future for orchestral music in America.

“We are thrilled to welcome LaRob to ACO,” says President & CEO Melissa Ngan. “His expansive vision and deep understanding of the support system needed to advance the work of today’s creative artists are essential to the work we do on behalf of composers and to the future of American orchestral music. We look forward to the continued growth of our EarShot initiatives under his leadership.”

ACO’s Artistic Director Curtis Stewart enthusiastically states, “I can’t wait to work with LaRob in this way. We have been in each other's orbit - from Chicago post-new music show hangs to radio broadcasts - let’s get it!”

A Sphinx LEAD alum and 2025 MPower Artist Grant recipient, LaRob’s work is rooted in community-centered performance, intersectional storytelling, and systems change. His voice will be instrumental as ACO advances its mission to uplift composers whose music reflects the rich and complex tapestry of American life.