CONDUCTOR :: FEBRUARY 22, 2015
(Performance cancelled due to inclement weather)
Dr. John Roberts is Professor Emeritus in the Music Department of Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY. Dr. Roberts served as chair of the department for fourteen years. During that time, he was the conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra. He was responsible for working with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce to showcase the University Orchestra at the annual "Pops in the Park." The orchestra continues to lead the performance at this event.
Dr. Roberts came to Eastern from Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne, IN, where he was chair of music and conductor of the University Orchestra. While in Fort Wayne, he organized and directed the Fort Wayne Youth Orchestra in collaboration with the Fort Wayne public schools and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
His career as a conductor, performer, and teacher is varied. After graduating from Oklahoma City University and serving two years in the United States Army Band, Dr. Roberts began his professional career as director of orchestra and bands in a junior high school. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY. At Eastman, he was selected to study with Jose Echaniz, piano artist in residence. In addition, he studied bassoon and clarinet and was a member of the Eastman Symphonic Band.
He served as Director of Instrumental Music and Conductor of the College / Community Orchestra at Maryville College, Maryville, TN. In this capacity, he was music director for musicals, operas, and other choral productions as well as director of the Maryville College Band. He continued to perform, both at the college and as a bassoonist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Roberts received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. While a student there, he was bassoonist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the LSU Band. He also served as interim director of band / orchestra at the LSU Laboratory School.
At Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX, he was Director of Instrumental Music - conductor of the University Orchestra and University Band. Responsibilities included music director of operas and musicals. He also directed the University United Methodist Church Choir, using Fort Worth Symphony members to accompany oratorios and other special music. He continued to perform as bassoonist with the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra.
As Dean of the Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO, he conducted the Orchestra and Woodwind Ensemble as well as the Accappella Choir and Show Choir. His Orchestra and Woodwind Ensemble were selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, and the Accappella Choir toured nationally each spring. He was director / accompanist / arranger for the Show Choir, which was selected by the USO for a six week tour of Germany.
While Instructional Supervisor of Music, Little Rock (AR) School District, he was conductor/director of the Little Rock Youth Symphony. The Youth Symphony was chosen to perform for the Association of Childhood International Annual Conference and at the Arkansas Music Educators Association Conference. He was selected to direct a community-wide presentation of "The Messiah" with full orchestra and chorus. This presentation was broadcast locally. Dr. Roberts served as President of the Arkansas Music Educators Association and as the Government Relations Chair during his tenure in Little Rock.
Dr. Roberts has served as guest conductor and clinician for many orchestra festivals and orchestras such as Tri-State Festival in Enid, OK, Signature Workshops in Myrtle Beach, NC, and the North Carolina All-Region Concert Band. He has served as clinician/adjudicator in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. In addition to his work as a clinician and adjudicator, Dr Roberts has continued to perform, not only in various symphony orchestras as a bassoonist, but in a variety of venues. As a woodwind specialist, he has performed professionally with groups such as Casa Mañana Summer Festival Theater in Fort Worth, TX for three seasons; with Barnum and Bailey Circus for three seasons; Holiday on Ice; The Glenn Campbell Show; and many other local and national touring companies.
Dr. Roberts has served in leadership positions in several organizations. He has been active in Music Educators National Conference serving on state and national committees. He served as president of the Kentucky Association of College Music Departments and worked with the Kentucky Department of Education to promote arts education in the state. He has also held leadership roles in the community, serving as president of the Richmond Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and was a founding member of the Richmond Area Arts Council serving on the board for several years.
Dr. Roberts came to Eastern from Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne, IN, where he was chair of music and conductor of the University Orchestra. While in Fort Wayne, he organized and directed the Fort Wayne Youth Orchestra in collaboration with the Fort Wayne public schools and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
His career as a conductor, performer, and teacher is varied. After graduating from Oklahoma City University and serving two years in the United States Army Band, Dr. Roberts began his professional career as director of orchestra and bands in a junior high school. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY. At Eastman, he was selected to study with Jose Echaniz, piano artist in residence. In addition, he studied bassoon and clarinet and was a member of the Eastman Symphonic Band.
He served as Director of Instrumental Music and Conductor of the College / Community Orchestra at Maryville College, Maryville, TN. In this capacity, he was music director for musicals, operas, and other choral productions as well as director of the Maryville College Band. He continued to perform, both at the college and as a bassoonist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Roberts received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. While a student there, he was bassoonist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the LSU Band. He also served as interim director of band / orchestra at the LSU Laboratory School.
At Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, TX, he was Director of Instrumental Music - conductor of the University Orchestra and University Band. Responsibilities included music director of operas and musicals. He also directed the University United Methodist Church Choir, using Fort Worth Symphony members to accompany oratorios and other special music. He continued to perform as bassoonist with the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra.
As Dean of the Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO, he conducted the Orchestra and Woodwind Ensemble as well as the Accappella Choir and Show Choir. His Orchestra and Woodwind Ensemble were selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, and the Accappella Choir toured nationally each spring. He was director / accompanist / arranger for the Show Choir, which was selected by the USO for a six week tour of Germany.
While Instructional Supervisor of Music, Little Rock (AR) School District, he was conductor/director of the Little Rock Youth Symphony. The Youth Symphony was chosen to perform for the Association of Childhood International Annual Conference and at the Arkansas Music Educators Association Conference. He was selected to direct a community-wide presentation of "The Messiah" with full orchestra and chorus. This presentation was broadcast locally. Dr. Roberts served as President of the Arkansas Music Educators Association and as the Government Relations Chair during his tenure in Little Rock.
Dr. Roberts has served as guest conductor and clinician for many orchestra festivals and orchestras such as Tri-State Festival in Enid, OK, Signature Workshops in Myrtle Beach, NC, and the North Carolina All-Region Concert Band. He has served as clinician/adjudicator in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. In addition to his work as a clinician and adjudicator, Dr Roberts has continued to perform, not only in various symphony orchestras as a bassoonist, but in a variety of venues. As a woodwind specialist, he has performed professionally with groups such as Casa Mañana Summer Festival Theater in Fort Worth, TX for three seasons; with Barnum and Bailey Circus for three seasons; Holiday on Ice; The Glenn Campbell Show; and many other local and national touring companies.
Dr. Roberts has served in leadership positions in several organizations. He has been active in Music Educators National Conference serving on state and national committees. He served as president of the Kentucky Association of College Music Departments and worked with the Kentucky Department of Education to promote arts education in the state. He has also held leadership roles in the community, serving as president of the Richmond Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and was a founding member of the Richmond Area Arts Council serving on the board for several years.
