Robert M Sanderl
Visiting Assistant Professor
Performer, composer, educator, and pedagogue, Rob Sanderl is a well-known musician and artist in the field of percussion. His versatility in almost any setting, from jazz to classical and contemporary to drum corps, has earned him the opportunity to perform in many prestigious settings around the world.
Rob has appeared as a soloist and ensemble performer in the United States and Europe. He has performed twice at both the distinguished International Percussion Ensemble Week in Croatia and the BUMfest Percussion Festival in Slovenia. He has also appeared at the Ljubljana Conservatory, Conservatorio Profesionalde Musica MarcosRedondo Ciudad Real, Escuela se Musica de La Eliana, Conservatorio Profesionalde Musica Valencia, and in Basel Switzerland twice. Rob appeared in performance at the Rochester International Jazz Festival and as a clinician and performer three times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Dallas and Indianapolis. Additionally, he has appeared at numerous PAS Days of Percussion in New York, Virginia, and North Carolina; The Heartland Marimba Festival, and at the McCormick Marimba Festival in 2016 and 2020.
In April of 2018, Rob debuted his new duo with long-time friend and percussionist Tom Marceau, performing at the Crane School of Music. Together the pair premiered a new concerto for two percussionists by Adam Silverman with the Radford Wind Ensemble and served as guest artists at the Heartland Marimba Festival. Sanderl has also served as both principal percussion and section member at the Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival, Roanoke Symphony and Roanoke Opera as timpanist and percussion.
As an educator Rob is known for his diversity. Under his direction, the Radford University percussion ensemble performed internationally twice in 2012 and 2018 and made its debut at the Kennedy Center in 2015. The ensemble also performed at the McCormick Marimba Festival in 2016/2020, the North Carolina Percussion Symposium 2018/2019, and appeared at numerous PAS Days of Percussion in both Virginia and North Carolina. In 2019 the ensemble placed 3rd at the Percussive Arts Society Chamber Competition, and in 2010 was the winner of the Virginia Music Educators call for tapes, the first percussion group ever to do so. Rob also has a long history in the marching arts, having taught groups in DCI, DCA, college and high schools throughout the U.S. with many students marching as members of the Santa Clara Vanguard, The Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, The Crossmen, and Jersey Surf.
Sanderl has presented clinics around the country and in Europe on various instruments including drum set, marimba, snare drum, and Basel Drumming. Specifically, he presented clinics in the areas of marimba and snare drum at the International Percussion Ensemble Week in Croatia and the BUMfest Percussion Festival in Slovenia, as well as at the Ljubljana Music Academy. Additionally, he has given sessions at leading universities such as the Eastman School, Ithaca College, James Madison University, UNCG, and many more. In addition to Pasic, Rob has presented clinics at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Festival, The Nafme National Conference, The College Music Society National Conference, and numerous state conferences from Massachusetts to Florida.
As a composer, Rob has pieces available from Tapspace, C. Alan and Honeyrock Publications. His works have been performed on four continents and recorded abroad. His ensemble works have also been performed by many universities in the U.S. including Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Florida State University, University of South Carolina, and Ithaca College among others. Sanderl is also an avid performer of new music, serving as lead or co-commissioner on 24 new works by composers such as Michael Burritt, Ivan Trevino, Baljinder Sekhon, Elliot Cole, Arthur Hnatek, and Adam Silverman. Rob has also arranged marching programs in DCA and for schools in New York, New Jersey, Virgina, and Iowa.
Rob received his DMA and Masters in Percussion Performance from the Eastman School of Music, as well as the coveted Performers Certificate. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music with a Performer's Certificate. During his education, Rob had the privilege to study with John Beck, Jim Petercsak, John Riley, Erik Forrester, Ernie Musquiz, and John Pratt.