Saxophonist Robert (Rob) Ward is a music educator in Puyallup, WA. He is currently teaching General Music and Beginning Band in the Puyallup School District. For six years, Rob was a musician serving with the United States Army Bands. He has been the principal saxophonist and section leader of multiple ensembles including America’s First Corps Band, the First Cavalry Division Band, the University of Colorado Wind Symphony and the Ohio University Wind Symphony. He was featured as a soloist on several occasions with both America’s First Corps Band and the First Cavalry Division Band. In 2018, he was selected to perform as a featured soloist with the United States Army Woodwind Quintet from the United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own. The group performed masterclasses and recitals at music schools in Idaho and Washington State.
Rob performed as the baritone saxophonist with the Black Diamond Saxophone Quartet - the graduate saxophone quartet at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Black Diamond Saxophone Quartet has performed at the 2016 NASA National Conference in Lubbock, Texas and the 2017 NASA Region 2 Conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as well as various performances in the Boulder and Denver areas. In 2017, the quartet performed the regional and Colorado premiere of Carter Pann's The Mechanics: Six from the Shop Floor - a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music. In 2014, Rob competed in the Ohio University Concerto Competition Finals and was selected to perform with the Ohio Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble at the OMEA conference. In April of 2014, Rob was awarded the Ohio University School of Music's Most Outstanding Graduating Senior Award.
Rob earned his Master of Music in saxophone performance at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he received the N. and T. Anderson Scholarship. Rob graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance and a minor in jazz studies. His primary teachers include Bill Burns, an active performer, teacher, and clinician in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Matthew James, Professor of Saxophone at Ohio University, and Tom Myer, Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Rob currently resides in Puyallup, Washington with his wife Rebecca, sons Samuel and Alexander, and their dog Sydney.