Rob is active as a software engineer in Fort Collins. Originally from Ohio, he received his undergraduate degree in French Horn performance and music theory at Baldwin-Wallace College, his master's degree in computer music (an interdisciplinary degree between music and computer science) at Northwestern University and his doctorate degree in music composition at the University of Colorado. As a horn player, Dr. Allen was 2nd horn in the Boulder Philharmonic for two seasons and in the Loveland Orchestra for three seasons. He has recently retired from horn playing due to competing demands on his time.

Dr. Allen has had his original compositions and arrangements performed by a variety of ensembles and soloists. He is actively composing and refining the Isorhythmic Round concept he invented during his doctorate degree.