MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW
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From 2021- 2026, Rob was the Director of Vocal Music at University High School in Irvine, where he conducted 5 choirs, taught classes in musical theatre and music technology, and served as the Music Director (vocal and instrumental) for the Spring musical. The musicals at University High School received numerous awards during his tenure. In 2022, THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL was awarded "Best Contemporary Musical" and "Orchestra of the Year" by the MACY Organization. In 2023, URINETOWN was awarded "Top Orchestra" by the Orange County Cappies, and "Best Small Ensemble" and "The Childress Award" by the MACY Awards. In 2024, EVITA was named "Small Orchestra of the Year" by the MACY Organization. In 2025, the orchestra for Guys & Dolls was named "Orchestra of the Year" by both the Orange County Cappies and the MACY Awards. In 2026, the orchestra for Dreamland was named "Orchestra of the Year" by the MACY Awards.
From 2010 -2021 Rob was the Director of Vocal Music at Woodbridge High School in Irvine. Under his leadership, the Vocal Music Program grew from 3 choirs with a total of 60 students, to 6 (involving over 240 students). In 2016 Woodbridge was named the National GRAMMY Signature School for excellence in music education - selected as the single top music program out of nearly 20,000 public high schools across the country.
Rob has enjoyed a career in musical theatre for the past 40 years, during which he has musically directed, conducted, and/or accompanied well over 250 productions, working with many leading theatre organizations including Theatre League, Sacramento Music Circus, South Coast Repertory, The Chance Theatre, The Norris Theatre, The Gem Theatre, The Buena Park Civic Theatre, The Curtis Theatre, South Bay Civic Light Opera, and Musical Theatre West.
Rob is an arranger and composer, and works frequently on projects as a freelance musician. He can be heard on the soundtrack of America's Sweethearts starring Julia Roberts, and accompanying Harry Connick Jr. in the film Life Without Dick. Rob received a Kennedy Center award for his original soundtrack for the ghost play The Woman In Black at Concordia University, was the primary music arranger for Lift Up Your Hearts – Songs For Creative Worship published by Geneva Press, and his song Possibilities is used in training courses around the world by the WorldWorks organization. He is the composer of the rock-drama Here.I.Am available for license through Heartland Plays, and penned a radio jingle for the OC Auto Team. 
As a performer, Rob has played and sang at hundreds weddings and memorial services, numerous galas and fundraising concerts, and has performed in many musical theatre cabarets. He played the role of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, and has been invited for final callbacks in New York for the Broadway companies of 42nd Street (Oscar) and Twyla Thorpe and Billy Joel's Movin' Out (Lead Vocals/Piano Man).
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Before his time at Woodbridge High School, Rob was the Director of Choral Activities and Conductor at Lutheran High School of Orange County, and then spent 3 years as the inaugural Director of Performing Arts at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine where he developed a flourishing program consisting of drama, choir, band, orchestra, musical theatre, and praise band.
He has taught classes in musical theatre at Concordia University and Santa Ana College, and has held staff accompanist positions at Santa Ana College, Cal State Fullerton, and several southern California churches. 
Rob is an active member of the California Music Educator’s Association (CMEA), Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), and the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA). In 2013 he was selected a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Educator-of-the-Year Award.
In 2019 Rob was selected out of 82,000 alumni from the University of Phoenix (Southern California Campus) for a Distinguished Alumni Award for "excelling professionally and for providing inspirational leadership to the community." In 2020, Rob was named Teacher of the Year at Woodbridge High School, and in 2023, he was recognized by the Greater Irvine Chamber as the Distinguished Educator of the Year for Secondary Education - a prestigious regional honor celebrating top-tier leaders in arts education alongside distinguished university faculty and civic leaders across Orange County. 
Rob's most recent professional musical endeavors include work as a collaborative pianist for masterclasses with Hugh Jackman and Lea Salonga, as well as serving on the faculty for Five Days of Broadway at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Rob is currently a 4th-6th Grade Vocal Music Specialist for the Irvine Unified School District, accompanist for the Southern California Children's Chorus - Concert Choir, and the music director and vocal coach for acclaimed actress and singer Shelly Burch Charnin. Rob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Christ College Irvine, now Concordia University, and holds a Masters degree in Education. |
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Colossians 3:23-24
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Colossians 3:23-24