Dr. Robert Spittal

Professional Experience

Conductor and composer Robert Spittal directs the Gonzaga University Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, and teaches conducting. He is also the conductor of the Clarion Brass Choir, one of the Northwest’s premier professional brass ensembles. Dr. Spittal’s compositions have been performed internationally, and his music has been praised by performers and critics as being “full of musicality” and “brilliantly colorful”. Three works for wind ensemble were recently chosen by Boosey and Hawkes Co. for their prestigious “Windependence” series, and his pieces have been selected by some of the country’s finest ensembles for performances and recordings. Since 2004, Spittal’s works have been performed or recorded by the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra, and ensembles at the countries leading conservatories, including Indiana University, University of Michigan, the Ohio State University, the University of North Texas, Ithaca College and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Spittal’s research on the wind music of Stravinsky and American Pulitzer-winner John Harbision has been published and presented at conducting symposia. Spittal and Harbison collaborated on a well-received session at the national College Band Directors Association conference at the University of Colorado in 1997. Dr. Spittal contributed several research articles for publication in the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” series (GIA Publishing) which has reached musicians and music educators throughout the US and Canada.

Dr. Spittal received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has also studied at Baylor University, The Ohio State University, The University of Michigan, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, the Cleveland Institute of Music and University of Colorado. His conducting teachers include Craig Kirchhoff, Michael Haithcock, and Eugene Corporon.