Robert W. Rumbelow joined the faculty at Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in 1996 as Director of Wind Ensemble Activities. In addition to teaching classes in conducting and literature, he is the conductor of both CSU Wind Ensembles, the faculty Camerata chamber orchestra, a frequent conductor of opera productions, as well as guest conductor, clinician, arranger, composer, and lecturer throughout the U.S. and abroad. Rumbelow received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from Eastman where he studied with Donald Hunsberger. Prior to pursuing his doctoral studies, he successfully served as a director of bands in the Texas public schools. Before joining CSU, Robert Rumbelow served as the associate conductor of the famed Eastman Wind Ensemble and Eastman Wind Orchestra.

He has received several notable accolades including the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize and first prize in the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition sponsored by the Sousa Foundation. In 1997 he won the North American round of the Tokyo International Conducting Competition, and progressed to the finals conducting the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Shinsei Symphony Orchestra. He received critical praise for his Russian début conducting the Hermitage State Chamber Orchestra in April of 2003.

Both NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting commonly broadcast performances of the CSU Wind Ensemble under his baton. The ensemble program has received widespread praise for live performances at many statewide and national conferences, as well as for their commercial recordings. Rumbelow has spearheaded many notable commissions and consortia including premières of works by Christopher Theofanidis, Shafer Mahoney, J.M. David, Dorothy Chang, and many others. His collaborations with artists such as Joseph Alessi, John Yeh, Phil Smith, and other top artists have demonstrated his belief in the highest professional standards within the educational experience. Rumbelow’s own compositions and arrangements are performed throughout the world, and published by Kjos, Ludwig/Masters, Warner Brothers, and Alfred Music Publishers. His works have been broadcast on NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, NPR, BBC, and NHK Japan.