Raised in New York City’s Greenwich Village by parents who were active in the arts, Robert Raines was immersed in music, theater, literature, and the visual arts from an early age. He attended the High School of Art and Design, one of New York City’s specialized schools for the arts. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Music, in composition and electronic music, from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, his Master of Music in composition from the Shenandoah Conservatory, and his Doctor of Music in composition from the Florida State University.

Parallel careers in music and visual arts followed his early education. His experience includes working for a number of years as a guitarist and composer in New York City, during which time he produced and performed on many recordings and performances of jazz, blues and popular music. He has also composed a sizeable body of art music and electronic compositions, and has toured the United States and Europe. During the same period, he achieved professional success in his career as a visual artist, including executive positions at America Online and Time Magazine. 

Robert Raines’ music has been performed and recorded throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.

Vít Micka has many years of experience conducting, including the Moravian Philharmonic and the Pilsen Radio Orchestra. He has conducted in Canada, Cuba, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and the United States. He teaches at the Prague Academy of Music and has given master classes in conducting in Europe the United States.