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Updated 3/9/2024

Rob Flax

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Artist / Creative (Individual)

Rob Flax is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator from Evanston, IL with a playful heart and an open mind. He has performed nationally and internationally with groups of many different styles, including opening for B.B. King and Tower of Power, playing viola and violin with the Trans Siberian Orchestra and YouTube star Jacob Collier, upright bass in an Argentine tango ensemble, mandolin and fiddle in various bluegrass bands, electric violin in several rock bands, collaborations with modern dancers, and more. As a composer Rob has written music for choreographers, film (including work on projects for James Franco and Anthony Bourdain), and several original projects. Rob is a graduate of the New England Conservatory, and he currently lives in Boston, MA.

In his “One Man Band” shows and workshops, Rob uses a looper pedal and other effects to transform his violin into an entire symphony of sounds, as well as use other instruments like piano, guitar, and percussion.

In his "Boom Chick Trio" shows, Rob fronts an energetic trio of virtuoso violin, guitar, and bass plus three part harmony vocals. Rooted in equal parts hot swing, snarky songwriting, and lyrical storytelling, this will transport you to a speakeasy somewhere in the back of a bar.

As a singer Rob draws influences from a long list of vocalists including Nat King Cole, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Harry Belafonte, Reggie Watts, and Bobby McFerrin. His songs are sometimes humorous, and like his hero Tom Lehrer Rob also has a degree in mathematics. Rob’s favorite composer is Fred Rogers, and like Mister Rogers Rob strives to create a better world using his musical gifts to spread light and joy.

Rob is also an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary artist, and a champion chess player. He is the inventor of the "Chessboard Drum Machine," which transforms the game of chess into a musical instrument. For more on this project, please visit robflax.com/ChessMusic.

Find Me

Rob Flax (He/Him)
Job Title: Musician
Phone: 8478947283
Address:
63 Robeson St, Apt 2
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2012

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Artist / Creative (Individual)

Legal Status:

Commercial / For profit - Sole proprietorship

Year Founded:

2012

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Music - Folk

Additional Disciplines:

  • Music - Traditional

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Arts for Social Change / Creative Activism
  • Creation of a Work of Art (Including Commissions)
  • Public Art Projects (In Free, Public Spaces)
  • Residency - Other
  • Arts Instruction / Lessons
  • Curriculum Development
  • Residency - In School
  • Workshops / Demonstrations / Master Class
  • Audio or Video Recording
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Wedding / Parties / Private Gatherings
Seasons Active: spring, summer, fall, winter
Events Per Year: 75

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Businesses
  • Elders
  • Families
  • General Public
  • Teens
  • School Groups

Languages Available:

  • English
  • Spanish

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City
  • National
  • County
  • Multi-County Region
  • State
  • Multi-State Region
  • International

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility
  • Access accommodations for people who are blind, partially sighted, and have low vision

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

ELIOT SCHOOL OF FINE AND APPLIED ARTS

School of the Arts

Date: 10/2020-10/2020

Outdoor concert series and fundraiser with Brian Friedland

Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club and Loring-Greenough House

Historical Society / Commission

Date: 01/2020-01/2020

Solo performance at the historic Loring-Greenough House in Jamaica Plain

CHARLES RIVER MUSEUM OF INDUSTRY

Museum - Other

Date: 12/2019-12/2021

Performances with Michael Tarbox

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY - CENTER FOR CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

School (Higher Ed Arts Program / Department)

Date: 04/2019-04/2019

Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary workshop for musicians and dancers

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American String Teachers Association

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • American String Teachers Association

Awards

Awards:

  • American String Teachers Association Alternative Styles Award—Best Improvisation (2009)

Education

Education:

  • New England Conservatory, class of 2012 (M.M. Contemporary Improvisation)
  • Denison University, class of 2010 (B.S., Mathematics; B.A. Violin Performance)

Artist Info

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Mathematics
  • Music
  • Dance

Certifications and Training:

  • Mark O'Connor Method instructor
  • New England Conservatory, MM., Music-In Education concentration

Fee range:

Workshops/clinics for strings, percussion, singing, improvisation, and more for all ages/levels. Fees range from $300—$2K depending on length, location, etc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EQioYro-xLVpeYESN0NkliJJQ2KTgYdXeEblNnewMDA/edit?usp=sharing

Teaching Artist

Teaching Settings:

  • Afterschool Program
  • Arts and Cultural Center / Venue
  • Community Site / Center
  • Corporate Business
  • Private Studio
  • School / University

Ages Served:

  • Elementary School-age
  • Middle School-age
  • High School-age
  • College-age
  • Adults
  • Seniors

Subject Areas:

  • Arts Integration - Mathematics
  • Music
  • Dance

Certifications and Training:

  • Mark O'Connor Method instructor
  • New England Conservatory, MM., Music-In Education concentration

Fee range:

Workshops/clinics for strings, percussion, singing, improvisation, and more for all ages/levels. Fees range from $300—$2K depending on length, location, etc. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EQioYro-xLVpeYESN0NkliJJQ2KTgYdXeEblNnewMDA/edit?usp=sharing

Touring Artist

NEST Eligible Artist

Technical Requirements:

  • For solo performances, please refer to my Fly Rig tech rider, available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YgLOP6nkFPxn3kFYmRoYDzFt9GPKs749yBuE_CpEz3Y/edit?usp=sharing
  • For duo performances with guitar, or Boom Chick Trio shows, please refer to the Boom Chick Trio tech rider, available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WETnYy_uh1TAkjDSebX0ArBAxi2J6QRRYu79er_tMmY/edit?usp=sharing
  • For quartet with drums, please refer to this tech rider/stage plot: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OB1YID7XXUn_jBVUMvMWhkMo35_zenEb_RJ_7YBXlXo/edit?usp=sharing

Fee Range:

Solo performer: $500—$1k Duo: $1k—2K Trio: $1,500—$3k Quartet: $2,000—$4k

State of Residence:

Massachusetts

Minimum Number of Performers:

1

Maximum Number of Performers:

4