Shaw, Robert Lawson (1916-1999) | University of Illinois Archives

Robert Shaw (1916-1999) was an American conductor most famous for his work with his namesake chorale, with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 1967-1988.  In 1970 Shaw founded the Robert Shaw Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. After stepping down from his Atlanta post in 1988, Shaw conducted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He served as its Music Director Emeritus and Conductor Laureate, continuing to conduct a series of seminar festivals and week-long Carnegie Hall workshops for choral conductors and singers until his death in 1999.

Shaw was known for drawing public attention to choral music through his wide-ranging influence and mentoring of younger conductors, the high standard of his recordings, and his support of racial integration in his choruses. His albums of modern music won many awards throughout his career.