About Rob
Robert Traugh (b. 1984, Morgantown, West Virginia) is an American composer, conductor, collaborator, educator, and performer. Robert's music showcases a wide range of creative experiences. His compositions include works for wind bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles, dance performances, pageantry, and multimedia collaborations. Robert transitions seamlessly through various genres and mediums, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his background as a public school teacher and his studies in jazz. His deep appreciation for jazz and its numerous derivatives has inspired a wide range of creative projects. He has worked with musicians, screenwriters, large ensembles, recording artists, choreographers, and various businesses.
Robert has collaborated with notable artists, including Cassandra Eisenreich, David Reeves, Voces8, Pathos Trio, Shana Simmons, Jim Nova, and Jason Kush. He has showcased his music in a variety of venues, ranging from elementary school cafeterias hosting young bands to prestigious performance halls at Northwestern University and the University of North Texas. Additionally, his work has been featured on streaming platforms and in visual media. His music has also been performed internationally at the National Flute Association and International Trombone Association conferences.
In addition to his dedication to composing, Rob is deeply connected to music education, having served as a public school secondary band director in the Norwin and Kiski Area School Districts for 12 years. He also served as the President of the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association District 1 . Rob continues to be passionate about nurturing creative pathways in the arts. He is actively engaged as a guest clinician, adjudicator, and conductor. Rob holds the Assistant Professor of Composition (Music Technology) position at the Mary Pappert School of Music, where he is the Program Director for the Composition for Media Degree. He also serves as a conductor of the wind symphony as a member of the artistic staff atThree Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra. He is also a founding board member of the Pittsburgh Creators' Project, where he helped to produce two seasons of the Pittsburgh Creators' Podcast and continues to administrate the summer reading sessions. To augment his expertise, he has also participated in wind band conducting symposia at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the University of Minnesota.
As a Provost Fellow, Rob is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. He holds a Master of Music degree in Electronic Composition from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from The Dana School of Music in Youngstown, OH. Throughout this journey, he has been guided by profound influences, including Lynn Purse, Matthew Heap, Jacob Sandridge, Andy Kohn, Alan Hankers, Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Judith Bowman, Til Meyn, David Morgan, Stephen Gage, and Michael Crist.
Rob resides in Cranberry Township, PA, just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife (and life partner) Bethany and their two children, Gavan and Maia.