Robert Pippin is Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he directs the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Community Band, The “Pride of the Great Southwest” marching band, and the “Wild Dawgs” pep band. In addition to ensemble directing he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and music education.
Prior to teaching as SWOSU, Dr. Pippin was the Dennis C. Dau Professor of Instrumental Music and Assistant Professor of Low Brass and Music Education at Northwest Missouri State University where he conducted the University Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Studio Jazz Ensemble, and taught the low brass studio, conducting, and music education courses. He is the former director of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.
Robert completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Harlan Parker. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Before attending Peabody Robert was a high school band director in Colorado where he developed comprehensive curriculums in concert bands, jazz ensembles, athletic bands, and chamber music. In addition to teaching Robert was an active performer in Colorado and Wyoming playing trombone as a tenured member of the Fort Collins Symphony and freelance artist regularly performing classical, jazz, pop, and chamber music.
Robert has been a performer, adjudicator, and clinician with bands, orchestras, and jazz ensembles in Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Missouri, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Florida, Illinois, Idaho, Nevada, and Puerto Rico, and has presented clinics at the College Band Directors National Association Southwest Division Conference, Hawai‘i University International Conferences, NACWPI National Convention, College Music Society Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Regional Conference, Oklahoma Bandmasters Convention, Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, and the Colorado Bandmasters Association Convention.
Professional organization memberships include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, National Association for Music Educators, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association and honorary membership in Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority. He is the Oklahoma Chair of the National Band Association and Chair of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Intercollegiate Honor Band. He is currently trombonist and arranger for the FF Horns in The Phil Collins Experience - THE premiere Phil Collins and GENESIS tribute band in America performing regularly throughout all regions of the country and (hopefully soon!) internationally.