Robert D. Jorgensen, a beloved educator, conductor, and leader in the music community, will be remembered for his profound impact on the world of band music and music education. As Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The University of Akron, and Assistant Director of the School of Music, Mr. Jorgensen dedicated his life to shaping the future of music and inspiring countless students and colleagues.
Under his exceptional direction, The University of Akron Symphonic Band achieved national acclaim, performing at ten Ohio Music Education Association conferences, as well as prestigious events including the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) conferences in 1992, 1998, and 2004, and the 2003 American Bandmasters Association Convention. A notable highlight was their performance at Severance Hall in Cleveland in April 2003, showcasing the high caliber of his leadership and the musicianship of his ensembles.
Mr. Jorgensen’s distinguished career was marked by numerous honors. He received the Outstanding Bandmasters Award from Phi Beta Mu at the Midwest Clinic in 1999, the Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association in 1981, and the A. Frank Martin Award from Kappa Kappa Psi in 1992. His peers recognized his remarkable contributions to the field by electing him to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 1991, where he served as a Past President. He also led the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association as its President.
A dedicated musician and scholar, Mr. Jorgensen earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his master’s degree from Michigan State University, studying under renowned mentors Leonard Falcone and Kenneth Bloomquist. As a euphonium soloist with the United States Army Field Band from 1969 to 1972, he shared his talent and passion for music with audiences across the country. Before joining The University of Akron in 1987, he inspired students as a faculty member at Morehead State University, Kentucky, and as Director of Bands at Midwestern State University, Texas, where his ensembles performed at state conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Robert D. Jorgensen’s legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched as a teacher, mentor, and conductor. His dedication to excellence, his passion for music, and his unwavering commitment to his students will continue to resonate in the hearts of those who knew him and in the music he inspired. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.