Asher Raboy (born January 14, 1957) is an American composer, conductor^[1] and educator living in Napa, California. He is the Resident Artist in the Department of Music for Pacific Union College.^[2] He was music director of the Napa Valley Symphony for twenty years,^[3][4] conductor of the Diablo Ballet for four^[5] and has been music director, assistant or guest conductor for a number of other ensembles.^[6] He has worked in opera, theater, symphony (classical and pops) and ballet.

Asher Samuel Raboy was born in Park Forest, Illinois (a suburb on the south side of Chicago). His father is of Russian-Jewish descent,^[7] and his mother is descended from New England Puritans. Both were physicists. Asher was the middle of seven children.^[8]

Raboy began studying the piano at the age of five. He later developed an interest in orchestral scores, and conducted a number of bands and orchestras throughout his childhood.^{[citation needed]}

Raboy began composing in junior high school,^{[citation needed]} and created pieces for each of his siblings for their piano recital.^{[citation needed]}

Asher attended the State University of New York at Binghamton (now Binghamton University) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. He studied composition with Ezra Laderman, and, during that time, apprenticed as a conductor and vocal coach with Peyton Hibbitt at the Tri-Cities Opera Company. He went off to Carnegie-Mellon University for his Masters of Fine Arts (1981), studying conducting with Robert Page and Istvan Jaray, and composition with Leonardo Balada.

Raboy returned to Binghamton University to study physics and mathematics while continuing his search for employment.^{[citation needed]} John Covelli appointed him Conducting Assistant of the Binghamton Symphony (now called the Binghamton Philharmonic).^{[citation needed]} He moved on to work as Assistant Conductor with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic under Imre Pallo, and then was appointed Music Director of the Napa Valley Symphony^[9]

In 2008 Raboy became a college professor.^[10] He wrote a number of scripts and arrangements specifically for young people, and performed concerts for students in pre-school and grade school.^{[citation needed]}

Raboy has composed or arranged nearly sixty works.^[3] been an energetic composer.^[16] His orchestral works have been performed by the Napa Valley Symphony.^[17] His early works include his Piano Sonata and his first orchestral composition, Gymnopedies, Or the Presence of the Goddess. In the mid 1980s, as his conducting began to demand more of his time, Raboy spent less time composing, switching to smaller forms. Then, in 1992 he returned to orchestral work, and created a number of pieces, including Piano Concerto, Orchestral Dances, The Coming Storm, The Journey, and A Mystic Valley.

Raboy has composed violin pieces to be performed by his wife, violinist Katy Brownell. ^{[citation needed]} He recently completed My Love by the Ocean (A Love Song for Katy), and is currently working on a new sonata for two violins.^{[citation needed]}