GWINNETT SYMPHONY WIND ORCHESTRA
Gwinnett Symphony Wind Orchestra performed its inaugural concert on November 7, 2015 under the direction of founding conductor, and now conductor emeritus, Dr. Thomas Martin Wubbenhorst. Dr. Wubbenhorst performed his retirement concert on May 7, 2017 where he passed the baton to Dr. Robert Dunham as the newly appointed music director for the 2017-18 Season. GSWO programs literature from the symphonic band, wind ensemble and military band traditions. The ensemble and will vary in size accordingly to the programming with the average concert consisting of approximately 50 musicians. GSWO typically performs three concerts per season at Discovery High School Theater in Lawrenceville, GA. Membership in GSWO is by audition with the conductor or by invitation. Interested musicians may inquire about membership throughout the year. Please complete the application here.
ROBERT DUNHAM
Gwinnett Symphony Wind Orchestra
Dr. Robert Dunham coordinates the wind and percussion program, conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, teaches undergraduate and graduate instrumental conducting, music education and literature courses.
Before his appointment at Georgia Southern University, Dunham served for five years as music department chairman and 10 years as director of instrumental studies at California State University, San Bernardino. Before moving to California in 1996, Dunham held positions as director of bands at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, Northern Michigan University, Missouri Western State College, and taught instrumental music in the public schools of Wyoming and Utah.
Dunham received his D.M.A. in instrumental conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Professor Gary Hill. He received his M.M. in trumpet performance and music education from the University of Wyoming, where he studied with Robert Mayse and Carlyle Weiss; and received his B.M. in trumpet performance and B.M.E. in music education from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with Eugene Corporon and William Pfund. Dunham has had additional conducting training with Elizabeth A. H. Green, Larry Rachleff, and Nurhan Arman. Collegiate ensembles under his direction have performed at regional CBDNA conventions, the California Music Educators convention, the Wyoming All State Music Educators Convention, Drum Corps International World Championships, National Football League half-time shows, and been invited to perform in China, Mexico, and England.
Between 1990 and 1996, Dunham served as a tenured trumpet player and the assistant conductor of two regional, professional orchestras – the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, he founded the Inland Southern California Chamber Players – a professional ensemble dedicated to the performance of chamber music composed since 1900.
As a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Dunham has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He is the CBDNA Western/Northwestern representative to the New Music Commissioning Committee, chairman of the Artistic Committee for the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, and past vice president for Music Lists and a member of the Festival Adjudication Steering Committee for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.