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Education

• Doctor of Musical Arts, D.M.A.
  Michigan State University
• Master of Music, M.M.
  Western Michigan University
• Bachelor of Music Education, B.M.E.
  Eastern Michigan University,

Biography

Robert Abend is in his third year as the Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Alabama. At USA his responsibilities include; director of the Symphony Band, director of the Jaguar Marching Band and athletic bands, and teaching courses in conducting, music education, and marching band techniques. Prior to his appointment at USA, he completed his graduate studies at Michigan State University, where he earned his DMA in Wind Conducting. At MSU he assisted and guest conducted with all concert bands, assisted with athletic bands, marching band methods, and undergraduate conducting courses. His primary conducting teacher was Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole. Rob earned his Masters degree in wind conducting at Western Michigan University where he studied with Dr. Scott Boerma. Upon graduation from WMU, Rob was recipient of the All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award, an honor given to only three masters teaching assistants across the entire university.

Prior to his graduate studies, Rob taught instrumental music in Michigan for eight years. Most recently, he served as the Director of Bands at Dakota High School in Macomb, Michigan from 2013 to 2018. Under his direction the Dakota High School band program was made up of approximately 200 students and included four concert bands, marching band, jazz band, winter drumline, and winterguard. In 2015, the Dakota High School Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Michigan Music Conference. Prior to his tenure at Dakota High School, Rob taught at Southgate (MI) Anderson High School and Elizabeth Ann Johnson High School in Mt. Morris, MI.  

Rob earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Michigan University, where he studied percussion with John Dorsey and conducting with John Zastoupil and Mary Schneider. As a percussionist, Rob has performed with the Macomb Symphony Orchestra, the Motor City Brass Band (timpanist), and was featured as a soloist at the 2009 Michigan Day of Percussion. His professional affiliations include American School Band Directors Association, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the National Association for Music Education.