Mr Rob Townsend | Middlesex University London
Logo close icon
search button

    Close window

      Close window

      Contact
      Share
      Section navigation

      Mr Rob Townsend

      ROLE: Senior Lecturer in Music
      SCHOOL: Arts & Creative Industries
      DEPARTMENT: School of Arts
      TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 8411 5714
      EMAIL: R.Townsend@mdx.ac.uk
      1. Biography &
        Qualifications
      2. Learning &
        Teaching Interests
      3. Research Outputs &
        Interests
      4. Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects
      5. Engagement &
        Impact

      • Biography &
        Qualifications

        Saxophonist Rob Townsend has performed with many notable jazz artists such as Eddie Henderson, Sam Rivers, Django Bates, Mark Lockheart, Iain Ballamy and Tim Garland. He plays regularly with iconic acid-jazz organist James Taylor and Arnie Somogyi's award winning band Ambulance. As well as jazz artists, Rob has performed with Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford and played with Robbie Williams at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert. Rob is a member of legendary Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett's band. He tours worldwide playing major concerts and festivals, most recently at the Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, Shephards Bush Empire, High Voltage in London, Isle of Wight Festival, Town Hall New York,  Orpheum theatre LA, Warfired Theatre San Francisco, Massey Hall Toronto, Place de Arts, Monteal, Ottawa Blues Festival amongst many others. Rob appears on more than 10 CDs and DVDs with Steve Hackett.

        As a composer, Rob works mostly in the commercial world. He has scored 8 computer games for companies such as Sony, Disney, Supermassive Games, DR Studios, Frontier Games and Blitz Games. Most recently Rob wrote the music for F1 Racestars a multi-platform worldwide release for Codemasters. Rob has written music for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five and Discovery. In 2011 he wrote the music for Mechanical Musical Marvel which was nominated for BAFTA in the best Childrens' animation category.

        Languages spoken


        Languages Spoken

      • Learning &
        Teaching Interests

        Jazz Improvisation

        Jazz Performance

        Stylistic Studies

      • Research Outputs &
        Interests

        Jazz Improvisation and Performance, composition for media

      • Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects

      • Engagement &
        Impact

        External Examiner: Birmingham Conservatoire BMus Jazz, Plymouth University BA World Jazz

      Back to top