Born in Winnipeg, Canada, pianist Noel McRobbie first received national attention after receiving top prize at the Eckhardt-Grammatté Piano Competition. In addition, he has received prizes at the CBC Début Concert Artist Series, Grand Konzerteum International Piano Competition, Seiler International Piano Competition, and the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.

Noel’s solo performances include the Steinway Series at the University of South Florida, Vancouver Chopin Society, Eastport Arts Centre in Maine, Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Seoul Arts Centre, and Sejong Chamber Hall. As concerto soloist, he has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Bulgarian Chamber Orchestra, Jeonju Philharmonic Orchestra, Westcoast Symphony, University of Michigan Philharmonia, Dongduk Women’s University Symphony Orchestra and the New Westminster Symphony. Noel has collaborated frequently with violinist Domagoj Ivanovic in recitals presented by Vancouver Chamber Players, Chemainus Classical Concerts, and Victoria Christ Church Cathedral. He has worked closely with current composers Michael Conway Baker, Owen Underhill, Stephen Brown, Chihchun Chisun Lee, Michael Sidney Timpson, and Frank Levin in performing their solo and chamber works at University of Victoria, Canadian Music Centre, Silk Purse Arts Centre, Daejeon Arts Centre, and the Asian Composers’ League Conference ­– Korea. His performances have been broadcast on CBC radio, and he was featured in International Piano magazine and KBS television’s Classic Odyssey.

Noel has studied at the Vancouver Academy of Music, University of British Columbia, New England Conservatory, University of South Florida, and University of Michigan, where he received a Doctor of Musical Arts. His teachers have included Lee Kum-Sing, Patricia Zander, Svetozar Ivanov, and Arthur Greene. Previously, Noel was Assistant Professor of Piano at Dongduk Women’s University in Seoul, South Korea, and faculty member at music festivals presented by the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest and St. Andrews Arts’ Council in New Brunswick. Noel currently teaches at the Vancouver Academy of Music, where he is on the college faculty, Place des Arts, Pacific Chamber Music Academy, and the Vancouver International Piano Festival.