Guest Conductor Robert Ponto

Robert Ponto is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Oregon where he is Director of Bands and conductor of the Oregon Wind Ensemble.

Ponto’s frequent appearances as guest conductor include the Detroit Chamber Winds, the Interlochen Arts Academy Band, and numerous state and regional honor groups throughout the United States. His performing ensembles appear regularly at the state, regional and national conferences of the College Band Directors National Association and the Music Educators National Conference. His groups have also been featured at the "Bang on a Can" contemporary music festival in New York City, on National Public Radio and Oregon Public Radio.

An advocate of new music, Ponto is actively involved in the commissioning of new works, and has collaborated with many influential composers including John Adams, Steven Stucky, Gia Kancheli, Michael Daugherty, Scott Lindroth, Augusta Read Thomas, Philip Rothman and David Maslanka. Also a proponent of electronic music, his most recently performed composition is, Postmark Sirius: In Memoriam Karlheinz Stockhausen, for trumpet and live electronics.

As a teacher of conducting, Ponto has earned considerable respect for his creative work both at the University of Oregon and at conducting workshops throughout the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Mr. Ponto was recently inducted into the American Bandmasters Association.