Robert (aka Bob) embarked on his current conducting path after a successful freelance career as a concert cellist in New York City and Boston, where he soloed with numerous orchestras and performed in chamber groups and orchestras such as the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony. Upon arriving in Montpelier in 2001, he founded GMYS. Under Blais’ leadership, the Green Mountain Youth Symphony has performed at the Vermont Statehouse for Farmer's Night and the Independence Day Celebration, for the Paine Mountain Arts Council, at First Night celebrations in Montpelier and St. Johnsbury, in joint concerts with the Vermont Philharmonic, at the Barre Opera House in Vermont and the Lebanon Opera House in New Hampshire, and they represented the United States in the Eurochestries Festival in Quebec City, where he and GMYS’ musicians joined five other young ensembles from Europe and Asia.

In addition to his conducting work with GMYS, Bob has conducted for the Monteverdi Music Camp, the Vermont-based School for Strings Camp, the Montpelier Capitol Orchestra, the Vermont Philharmonic, and the cello ensemble Blazin' Cellos. He has conducted at All State and District music festivals throughout northern New England and in New York. He receives rave reviews for his educational outreach concerts from seasoned performers, teachers, and students alike.

As a teacher of all violin-family instruments, Bob has served on the faculty of the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY, the Hollis Woods Music School in Queens, NY, the Chamber Music Institute at the University of New Hampshire, and the Westford Suzuki School in Westford, MA. He has been interviewed for National Public Radio's 50 Great Teachers series, and his students have been very successful in a wide variety of performing situations. His young students have been members of the Greater Boston, Northeast, Green Mountain, and Vermont Youth Orchestras, have won auditions to participate in New Hampshire and Vermont All-State Festivals and All New England Orchestras, and have received top ratings in the New York State Music Association Competition. Mr. Blais' adult students have become members of the Vermont and New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestras, the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, and other professional orchestras. Robert has had students featured as soloists with regional orchestras and at Lincoln Center, and they participate in national and international festivals.