Composer and arranger Rob Romeyn joins me this week to talk about his career, the lessons he learned from great mentors as a young arranger, and his current work with C.L. Barnhouse.

Topics:

• Rob’s background growing up in Florida and his exposure to some of the great names in the music education and marching arts communities during his early career in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• The story of a band arranging class taught by Bob Cotter that exposed Rob to band music and arranging while still in high school.
• How conducting a community band led to Rob’s transition to writing for concert band and his introduction to Andy Glover at C.L. Barnhouse.
• Rob’s current compositional process, the value of writing holiday music, and how he formulates a plan for each piece that he writes.

Links:

• Rob Romeyn
• C.L. Barnhouse
• Second Time Arounders Marching Band
• Walton: Crown Imperial
• Romeyn: Soar with Dragons
• Romeyn: Apollo: Myth and Legend
• Romeyn: Atlantis: The Lost Continent

Biography:

Rob Romeyn’s (b. 1961) music career has been multi-faceted and diverse. He has served as a performer, conductor, educator and as a composer and arranger. As a band director, he has directed bands from the elementary level to adult community groups. His first composition for band was published at age 19. His ability to write effective and educationally sound music for bands and string orchestras of all levels can be attributed to his vast teaching experiences.

Many elementary, middle school, high school, university, community bands and string orchestras worldwide have performed his arrangements and compositions. He has been commissioned to write for marching band, concert band, string orchestra and jazz ensemble. His concert band and orchestra music is on many state required music lists. Many of his works are featured as “Editor’s Choice” selections at all levels by major music distributors. His music has seen extensive airplay worldwide. Many of his arrangements have been featured on national television, including portions of the Peach Bowl halftime shows for 2000-2001, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mr. Romeyn is a member of the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers. Much of his music has been recorded, and is available on CD and download through Walking Frog Records and other music outlets. He is in demand as a guest conductor for honor bands, and regularly accepts new commissions. His conducting and rehearsal style has been described as inspiring and energetic.

Mr. Romeyn received a M.M. Ed. Degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He served as staff arranger for the University of Louisiana at Monroe “Sound of Today” band from 1983-1986. His graduate assistant duties at ULM in addition to arranging included conducting the university concert band and the basketball pep band. Mr. Romeyn also served as staff arranger at James Madison University. He was the director of the St. Petersburg Community Band in St. Petersburg, Florida from 1994-2013.

-------- ​ Special thanks to VanderCook College of Music for sponsoring this episode. With a world-class faculty, a location just minutes from downtown Chicago, and an intensive summers-only masters program, it's no wonder VanderCook College of Music has graduates teaching music in all 50 states, 21 countries, and 6 continents.  Make next summer your most inspiring summer yet by pursuing a Masters in Music Education at VanderCook College of Music. And for the next generation of music educators, VanderCook offers an exceptional, comprehensive 4-year Bachelor of Music Education program. VanderCook Admissions information is available at www.vandercook.edu.