Robert Snelson is the Territorial
Music Education Director for The Salvation Army’s Southern Territory. In this position, he provides direction to
music education programs of The Salvation Army throughout the fifteen southern
states and coordinates the annual music publications of the Southern Territory,
including collections of instrumental (American Instrumental Ensemble Series and American Instrumental Solo Series) and vocal music (Sing
Praise and Children’s Praise).
Robert is the Bandmaster at the School for Officer Training and was the Bandmaster of the
Atlanta Temple Corps Band from 2004 to 2011 where he now serves as its Deputy Bandmaster. As a
Salvationist music leader, he has had the opportunity to lead various corps and
divisional ensembles throughout the territory and has been a guest at territorial
music camps in Argentina, Brazil, and Jamaica.
Robert has played and sung in a
variety of band and choral ensembles. He
has been a member of the Southern Territorial Band since 1998 and the Songsters
from 1998 - 2001. While in Texas, he participated in the Texas Divisional Band,
Texas Brass, and the Dallas Temple Corps Band and Songsters and has traveled
with these ensembles to Costa Rica,
Mexico, Bolivia, Panama,
Guatemala, Canada, and Cuba. He was part of the Asbury College Salvation
Army Student Fellowship (SASF) Band and Songsters for several years. In addition to playing in many school
ensembles during his time in Kentucky,
he was also a member of the Lexington Brass Band and Saxton's Cornet Band.
Robert graduated from Asbury College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with emphasis in trumpet
performance. He also spent two years
studying music at the University of Louisville (1995-97). Robert studied trumpet under
several teachers including, Terry Everson, Dr. Ronald Holz, Dr. Mike Tunnell,
and Vince DiMartino. While at Asbury College,
he studied composition/arranging with James Curnow.
As a composer and arranger, Robert
has had several arrangements published by The Salvation Army's Southern
Territory in the American Instrumental Ensemble Series, Sing Praise,
and Children's Praise.
Robert and his wife, Jill, live in Tucker, Georgia,
with their two children, Abigail and Isaac.