Robert is currently second trombone of the Fort Collins Symphony, and is the Director of Bands at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado. Raised in Fort Collins Colorado, Robert began playing trombone at the age of 12. He attended Colorado State University on scholarship, and was awarded principal trombone in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble as a freshman. During his tenure at Colorado State, Robert studied trombone, euphonium and tuba with Dr. Robert Brewer and received many awards and scholarships for classical and jazz trombone performance. Notably among these are the Sallee Award, David Paul Knight Jazz Performance Award, University Orchestra Concerto contest winner in 1998, and the Honors Recital, all while majoring in Education. Robert was a soloist with the Wind Ensemble, as well as being a guest conductor and soloist with the University Orchestra. As an undergraduate Robert studied instrumental conducting with David Shaner, Michael Schaff and Willfred Schwartz.
Robert studied instrumental conducting full time with Dr. J. Steven Moore at Colorado State University, completing his Master of Music with an emphasis in Conducting in 2003, while teaching half-time as Assistant Director of Bands at Longmont High School in Longmont, Colorado. After the completion of his degree, he was Director of Bands at Pueblo South High School in Pueblo, Colorado for two years. While teaching in Pueblo, Robert resurrected the marching band, which had not existed since 1987, and succeeded in growing the program to add a second jazz ensemble and orchestra teacher. Robert has been the Director of Bands at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, Colorado since 2005. The band program at Thompson Valley is proud of being a balanced and comprehensive musical experience for students, consisting of three concert bands, three jazz bands, a competitive marching band, pep band, musical pit orchestra and various chamber group opportunities.
In his spare time, Robert is becoming an active composer. He has composed many new works for jazz ensembles of various sizes and instrumentation, composed and arranged music for concert and chamber ensembles, and has composed original music and written drill for the marching band for in 2006 and 2007.
Robert has performed with Opera Fort Collins, The Larimer Chorale, Fort Collins Wind Symphony, The Linden Street Brass, Canyon Concert Ballet, Cheyenne Symphony, Longmont Symphony, and is an active classical and jazz freelance artist in northern Colorado. Robert is a member of the Colorado Bandmasters Association, Colorado Music Educators Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
