Episode 94 - Robert Sheldon

Robert Sheldon has had a remarkable career as a composer, conductor, and music educator and is the Director of Concert Band Publications at Alfred Music.  Topics: Robert's incredible music background as the "Forrest Gump" of band music that included vaudevillian parents, studies at the University of Miami with Clifton Williams, Alfred Reed, and Frederick Fennell, and playing in the very first Disney World Band directed by Meredith Willson! Robert's teaching career in Florida including stops at the University of Florida and Florida State University and his eventual move to Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. Robert's role as the band editor at Alfred Publishing, commercial publishing vs. self-publishing, and the Sound Innovations series. What it looks like to commission a new band work from Robert Sheldon. (Hint: You need to plan it out several years in advance.) Links: Robert Sheldon Alfred Music Sound Innovations Ravel: Daphnis et Chloè Biography: Robert Sheldon (b. Feb 3, 1954) has taught instrumental music in the Florida and Illinois public schools, and has served on the faculty at Florida State University where he taught conducting and instrumental music education classes, and directed the university bands. As Director of Concert Band Publications for Alfred Music, he maintains an active composition and conducting schedule, and regularly accepts commissions for new works. Sheldon received the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Miami and the Master of Fine Arts in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida. An internationally recognized clinician, Sheldon has conducted numerous Regional and All-State Honor Bands throughout the United States and abroad. His teaching career included 28 years in the Florida and Illinois public schools as well as at the University of Florida, Florida State University, Illinois Central College and Bradley University. He also held positions as conductor of the Alachua County Youth Orchestra in Gainesville, Florida and the Prairie Wind Ensemble in East Peoria, Illinois. He maintains membership in several organizations that promote music and music education.  He is lead author for the SOUND INNOVATIONS FOR BAND method books, and is a co-author for the MEASURES OF SUCCESS Volume 1 method book and the SOUND INNOVATIONS FOR STRINGS method books. The American School Band Directors Association has honored him with the Volkwein Award for composition and the Stanbury Award for teaching, and the International Assembly of Phi Beta Mu honored him with the International Outstanding Bandmaster Award. He has also been a twenty-eight-time recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publisher's Standard Award for his compositions in the concert band and orchestral repertoire. His compositions have been recorded and released on compact discs including, Images: The Music of Robert Sheldon, and Infinite Horizons: The Music of Robert Sheldon, as well as numerous other recordings. Mr. Sheldon has been the topic of articles published in The Instrumentalist, Teaching Music and School Band and Orchestra Magazine, and is one of eleven American wind band composers featured in Volume I of Composers on Composing Music for Band.