Robert Muczynski was born in Chicago in 1929, of Polish and Slovak parentage. He became an accomplished pianist, and while enrolled as a piano major at Chicago’s DePaul University, he studied with Walter Knupfer. Alexander Tcherepnin was to become his most important composition teacher and mentor, and at DePaul Muczynski earned his bachelor and masters degrees. Throughout his career Muczynski generally concentrated his output on producing works for solo piano and small chamber combinations, and has recorded most of his own piano works. Aged twenty-nine, he made his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall, performing a programme of his own compositions for the instrument. Now considered one of America’s most distinguished neo-Classical composers, Muczynski’s works are frequently heard in Europe, Asia, and Australia as well as throughout the United States, with performances in venues such as Lincoln Centre, the Kennedy Centre, Orchestra Hall in Chicago and the Wigmore Hall in London.

Muczynski retired as Professor Emeritus from the University Of Arizona, Tucson, in 1988 after serving as Head of the Composition Department and Composer-In-Residence for twenty-three years.