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Robert Dubois Jorgensen (26 December 1945-4 July 2015) Robert D. Jorgensen was an American bandmaster, conductor, and educator. Following his retirement from The University of Akron School of Music in May 2013, Mr. Jorgensen was awarded the titles of Professor of Music Emeritus and Director of Bands Emeritus.

During his 26-year tenure at Akron, The University of Akron Symphonic Band was invited to perform at 11 conferences of the Ohio Music Education Association, the 1992 conference of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the 1998 CBDNA conference, the 2003 American Bandmasters Association Convention, and the 2004 CBDNA conference at the Cincinnati Conservatory/College of Music. The Symphonic Band also performed at Severance Hall in Cleveland in April 2003, followed by a 2008 tour of several European countries.

Jorgensen was widely honored as a music educator and conductor. He received the Outstanding Bandmasters Award from the International Assembly of Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters Fraternity, at the Midwest Clinic in 1999. He received the Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association in 1981 and the A. Frank Martin Award from Kappa Kappa Psi in 1992.

In 1991, Jorgensen was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and was a past-president of the organization, elected in March 2008. He was also past president of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association. Jorgensen received unanimous support from his colleagues for the distinction of Professor Emeritus at The University of Akron and later was honored by the City of Akron with a proclamation declaring Oct. 5, 2013, as “Robert D. Jorgensen Day.” He was also honored on Dec. 6, 2013, as a recipient of The University of Akron Honorary Alumni Award.

Professor Jorgensen appeared as guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. In 2009, he was invited to serve as an adjudicator for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. Since 2006, Jorgensen served as musical director/conductor of The Freedom Brass Band of Northeast Ohio. In addition to The American Bandmasters Association, he held professional memberships in the National Band Association (Board of Directors 1982-1984), College Band Directors National Association, NAFME – The National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, and Phi Beta Mu (President Elect – Ohio Chapter).

Jorgensen earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, where he was a student of Mark H. Hindsley, Robert Gray and Daniel Perantoni and a master’s degree from Michigan State University, where he was a student of Leonard Falcone and Kenneth Bloomquist.

From 1969-1972, he was euphonium soloist with the United States Army Field Band in Washington, D.C., Hal Gibson and Samuel Fricano, conductors. Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Akron in 1987, Jorgensen was on the faculty at Morehead State University and was director of bands at Midwestern State University. His concert band in Texas performed for the Texas Music Educators Association convention and the Texas Bandmasters Association convention.