School of Music - Robert Spradling
Robert Spradling (1993)
Director of Bands, Conducting
B.M.E. Florida State
M.M.E. Florida State
Ph.D. Florida State
Robert L. Spradling is Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, where he serves as Director of Bands and conducts the University Symphonic Band and Western Winds. Spradling holds three degrees from The Florida State University: the Bachelor of Music Education, the Master of Music Education, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education. He joined the WMU faculty in the fall of 1993 after serving as Director of Bands and Chairperson for Winds and Percussion at Syracuse University. Prior to his university experience, Spradling taught at the junior and senior high levels in the Florida public schools.
As a conductor in the School of Music at Western Michigan University, Spradling has prepared the University Symphonic Band for performances for the College Band Directors National Association, tours throughout the State of Michigan and Midwest, as well as international tours of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Brazil, and the People′s Republic of China. In addition, the Western Winds, a faculty-graduate student chamber winds ensemble, has performed for the International Horn Society′s World Conference and in residence at Sichuan University and Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. Spradling teaches both undergraduate and graduate conducting courses as well as a graduate course on the development of the wind band and its literature.
As a guest conductor and clinician, Spradling has been active nationally and internationally with outstanding amateur and professional ensembles and has contributed to numerous clinics and conferences for the professional development of wind band conductors.
Spradling has contributed articles to The Instrumentalist, Journal of Band Research, Journal of Research in Music Education, and The Band Directors Guide, among others, and is author of the conducting workbook, Error Detection Exercises for the Instrumental Conductor.
Spradling has been the recipient of the American School Band Directors Stanbury Award and the Kappa Kappa Psi A. Frank Martin Award for leadership in the music profession. He is co-founder and has served both as an officer and member of the board of directors of the New York State Band Directors Association. In addition, he has served as Florida State Chairman of the National Band Association and in the capacities of New York Chairman, National Coordinator for State Chairpersons, and Eastern Division President of the College Band Directors National Association. Other professional memberships include National Association for Music Education, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Sigma Alpha Iota.
Email: robert.spradling@wmich.edu