- Instrument Second Trombone
Dr. Robert Parker officially joined the Des Moines Symphony in 2024 as Second Trombone. He is also Principal Trombonist of Orchestra Iowa and Principal Trombonist of the Quad City Symphony, and has performed with the Houston Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, and Sinfonia Gulf Coast, among others. An avid educator, Dr. Parker serves on the faculty at Drake University and maintains a private studio of low-brass students. Students of Dr. Parker have been accepted into All-State ensembles, As a soloist, Dr. Parker has appeared with ensembles that include the Magnolia City Brass Band, UNC-Greensboro Wind Ensemble, Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, Iowa Trombone Choir, among others. He has also presented recitals and masterclasses at universities and high school music programs in Iowa, Illinois, and numerous other states. Dr. Parker completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trombone performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa in 2018, the Master of Music degree at Florida State University, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Parker is an Edwards Instrument Company artist, performing on a custom Edwards tenor trombone.
