Ross Rawlings
{{short description|American pianist and music director}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ross Rawlings
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|36|2003|May|5}}
| birth_place =
| education = Towson University (B.A.)
| occupation = {{hlist|Pianist|Composer|Music director|Conductor}}
| years_active =
| awards = Kevin Kline Award (2010)
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| years_active = 1982–present
| website =
}}
}}
Ross Scott Rawlings (born {{Circa}} {{birth based on age as of date|36|2003|May|5|noage=1}}) is an American pianist, composer, conductor, and music director.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no98038308/ |title=Rawlings, Ross Scott |website=worldcat.org |publisher=OCLC World Cat Identities |access-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001182414/https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-no98038308/ |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |author=Schelle |first=Crystal |date=24 July 2016 |title=Smithsburg writer has novels turned into musicial [sic] |url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/lifestyle/2016/07/24/smithsburg-writer-has-novels-turned-into-musicial/45637737/ |website=Herald Mail Media |publisher=}}
Early life and education
Rawlings was born {Circa 1965} to Daryl Lee (née Prysock) and Dennis Scott Rawlings.
{{Cite web|url=http://obituaries.times-news.com/obituary/dennis-rawlings-1943-2017-893262272|title=Dennis Scott Rawlings|date=2017-05-17|website=Cumberland Times|access-date=2018-03-05}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/05/05/dont-call-his-music-a-bowl-of-cherries/|title=Don't call his music a bowl of cherries|last=Rousuck|first=J. Wynn|date=2003-05-05|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en}} His mother was a contract analyst for the Government of Maryland and his father was a collection agent.{{Cite web|url=http://obituaries.times-news.com/obituary/daryl-rawlings-1945-2017-876767942|title=Daryl Lee Rawlings|date=2017-02-17|website=Cumberland Times}} Ross Rawlings and his brother, Kevin D. Rawlings lived in Baltimore County, but later moved to Harford County, Maryland before middle school. He began taking piano lessons at the age of 3 and started a singing group in middle school that continued through high school. When Rawlings was 16, he was injured in a car crash while en route to the first orchestra rehearsal for a production of Seesaw at Liberty Showcase Theatre in [Randallstown, Maryland], [Maryland]. He was in a hospital for over a month due to broken ribs, wrists, kneecaps, sternum and fractured elbows. Despite the crash, Rawlings was able to conduct and play piano for the production. In 1993, Rawlings earned a Bachelor's of Science in Music Education and Piano from Towson University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/baltimore/article/Howard-County-Arts-Council-Announces-Performers-for-CELEBRATION-OF-THE-ARTS-Gala-20170321|title=Howard County Arts Council Announces Performers for CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS Gala|date=2017-04-21|work=Broadway World|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en}}
Career
Rawlings became the resident musical director of Toby's Dinner Theatre circa 1989. For four years in the mid-1990s, Rawlings also taught at Atholton High School. In the early 2000s, Rawlings was the conductor for the national/international tour of Fosse directed by Ann Reinking/Debra McWaters.{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20040416/fosse-kicks-up-a-storm|title='Fosse' kicks up a storm|last=Leverone|first=Barbara|date=2004-04-16|work=Sarasota Herald|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en}} In 2006, he was the musical director for broadway revival of Sweet Charity.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2006/legit/markets-festivals/sweet-charity-4-1200512698/|title=Sweet Charity|last=Morgan|first=Terry|date=2006-10-12|work=Variety|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2006/11/22/theater-sweet-charity-ends-with-ringwald/|title=Theater: 'Sweet Charity' ends with Ringwald|date=2006-11-22|work=Orange County Register|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}} At Olney Theatre Center in 2012, Rawlings conducted and orchestrated a production of A Chorus Line and was the musical director for Little Shop of Horrors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-chorus-line-at-the-olney-theatre-center-is-a-largely-enjoyable-re-creation-of-the-long-running-broadway-show/2013/08/05/1f36253c-fde9-11e2-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html|title='A Chorus Line' at the Olney Theatre Center is a largely enjoyable re-creation|last=Pressley|first=Nelson|date=2013-08-05|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217094510/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-chorus-line-at-the-olney-theatre-center-is-a-largely-enjoyable-re-creation-of-the-long-running-broadway-show/2013/08/05/1f36253c-fde9-11e2-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html|archive-date=February 17, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/olney-theatre-centers-little-shop-of-horrors-takes-itself-too-seriously/2012/08/12/e355c21c-e236-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html|title=Olney Theatre Center's 'Little Shop of Horrors' takes itself too seriously|last=Pressley|first=Nelson|date=2012-08-12|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618195136/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/olney-theatre-centers-little-shop-of-horrors-takes-itself-too-seriously/2012/08/12/e355c21c-e236-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html|archive-date=June 18, 2017|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Rawlings was the musical director of Rep Stage's 2014 production of The Fantasticks.{{Cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-ho-lt-fantasticks-0515-20140509-story.html|title='The Fantasticks' -- time-tested and still sweet|last=Giuliano|first=Mike|date=2014-05-12|work=Columbia Flier|access-date=2018-03-05|language=en-US}} Rawlings was the Director of Choral Activities and Piano at Glenelg High School 2012-2018. In 2017, composer Stacey V. Gibbs wrote a piece of music entitled Go Down, Moses for the Glenelg choir and dedicated it to the students and Rawlings.{{Cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/lisbon-fulton/ph-ho-n-glenwood-0406-20170406-story.html|title=Glenelg choir singing a new tune written just for them|last=Trobridge|first=Tracy|date=2017-04-06|work=Howard County Times|access-date=2018-03-06|language=en-US}} Rawlings was the musical director of the inaugural premier of the musical, Magic Under Glass, by the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts under the direction of Toby Orenstein.
Personal life
In the mid-1990s, Rawlings purchased a house in Columbia, Maryland where he lived for 16 years. As of 2018, he resides in Westminster, Maryland.
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! Work !! Venue !! Notes !! Ref(s) |
| 2010
| rowspan="4" |Outstanding Dramatic Series |{{won}} |Tied with Diane White-Clayton |
| rowspan="2" |2015
| rowspan="3" |Helen Hayes Award |{{nom}} | rowspan="3" |Toby's Dinner Theatre | |
| {{nom}}
| |
| 2018
|{{Nominated}} |Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawlings, Ross}}
Category:20th-century American pianists
Category:21st-century American composers
Category:American male conductors (music)
Category:American music directors
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:20th-century American composers
Category:20th-century American conductors (music)
Category:21st-century American conductors (music)
Category:People from Baltimore County, Maryland
Category:People from Harford County, Maryland
Category:Musicians from Maryland
Category:Towson University alumni
Category:American male pianists