A Conversation with Robert Musser and Gail Brechting
Interview and discussion with Robert Musser, founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Tacoma Concert Band and esteemed clinician.
ROBERT MUSSER is Professor Emeritus at the University of Puget Sound, where he was Director of Bands, Professor of woodwinds, conducting, music education, and Chairman of Winds and Percussion. He retired as Distinguished Professor of Music. He is Maestro Emeritus of the Tacoma Concert Band that he founded in 1981 and was the band’s only music director and conductor for 38 years. Through his artistic vision and leadership, the band has grown to enjoy a national and international reputation for excellence. The TCB was one of the first bands to receive The Sudler Scroll, recognizing community bands of outstanding musical excellence. Under his direction, the band made four concert tours in Europe, released eight CDs, and commissioned six compositions. Musser holds degrees in conducting, performance, and music education from Lebanon Valley College and the University of Michigan. He taught music at every level, from grade school to college, and his high school band consistently received superior ratings. While at the University of Puget Sound, Musser developed the University Wind Ensemble into one of the finest in the Northwest. Under his direction, the UPS Wind Ensemble performed on the conference programs of the Washington and Northwest Music Educators Associations, the Northwest and Western Division of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Western International Band Clinic. He has presented clinics for the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, Northwest Music Educators Association, Washington Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, Western International Band Clinic, and the American Band College. He conducted numerous regional and state festivals and honor bands and appeared as a guest conductor of both bands and orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, China, Russia, and Ukraine. As an oboist, he played in professional orchestras in Harrisburg, Honolulu, Wichita, and Tacoma. As a “free-lance” professional woodwind performer (playing oboe, English horn, flute, clarinet, and saxophone) in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Hawaii, California, Kansas, and Washington. For many years, he performed as principal oboe with the Tacoma Symphony and as a woodwind specialist throughout the Puget Sound area. As a soloist, he performed with the Tacoma Symphony and numerous college, community, and high school orchestras and bands in Washington and Oregon. He studied with some of the most prominent performing artists and conductors in the world. The list includes John de Lancie and Marc Lifschey, oboists; Nelson Hauenstein and Paul Renzi, flutists; Daniel Bonade and William Stubbins, clarinetists; Larry Teal and Sigurd Rascher, saxophonists; Hugh Cooper, bassoonist; and Stanley Chapple and Frederick Fennell, conductors.Among Musser’s honors are election into the American Bandmasters Association (an honorary organization for distinguished band conductors); the prestigious Sudler Order of Merit of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, in recognition of many special contributions to bands and band music; and election into the inaugural class of the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. Professionally, Musser presents classes and clinics on expressive performance and as a guest conductor. Leisure time activities include traveling the world with his wife Nancy, playing golf, tennis, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
ROBERT MUSSER is Professor Emeritus at the University of Puget Sound, where he was Director of Bands, Professor of woodwinds, conducting, music education, and Chairman of Winds and Percussion. He retired as Distinguished Professor of Music. He is Maestro Emeritus of the Tacoma Concert Band that he founded in 1981 and was the band’s only music director and conductor for 38 years. Through his artistic vision and leadership, the band has grown to enjoy a national and international reputation for excellence. The TCB was one of the first bands to receive The Sudler Scroll, recognizing community bands of outstanding musical excellence. Under his direction, the band made four concert tours in Europe, released eight CDs, and commissioned six compositions.
