Living a life of music
By Jennifer Colton - Argus Observer
Friday, April 13, 2007 10:58 AM PDT
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| Longtime band director Gary Robbins leads the Nyssa High School wind ensemble through a march Thursday in the band room. Robbins is a finalist for the Oregon Symphony’s 2006-2007 Patty Vemer Music Educator of the Year Award.
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Nyssa - This month, Nyssa School District teacher Gary Robbins was declared the runner-up for the Oregon Symphony’s 2006-2007 Patty Vemer Music Educator of the Year Award.
Nyssa High School Choir Director David Sintay submitted Robbins’ application, along with 19 letters of recommendation from school staff, community members and students.
“The biggest reason (I nominated Robbins) is that Gary has always put the students first,” Sintay said. “It’s a good model of what I want to do. He is a role model for what I want to become.”
The recipient of the award will be recognized April 30 during a reception in Salem, before the Oregon Symphony performance. Robbins and Sintay have an invitation to attend the reception and concert.
Robbins, who will retire at the end of this school year, has taught instrumental music since 1974, serving around Oregon, including stints in Salem, Turner and Dufur, before coming to Nyssa six years ago.
“I came through here with an army band on tour 10 years ago,” Robbins said. “I liked the area, so when I saw there were openings, I applied. We’ve been here ever since.”
The tour — with the Oregon Army National Guard Band — took Robbins to Four Rivers Cultural Center, and it was not his first experience with the military. Robbins grew up in western Montana before spending four years in the United States Air Force.
“When I graduated from high school, the military was drafting just about everyone who could walk and use two hands,” Robbins said. “Rather than be drafted, I joined the Air Force.”
After his service, Robbins, who plays low-brass, specializing in trombone, attended Willamette University and joined the Oregon Army National Guard Band. He continues to actively play and is a member of the Educators Band in Ontario. Robbins said teaching music came to his mind first when considering a career, primarily because of the influence of his high school band director.
“He had a lot of time to spend with me to get me up to snuff,” Robbins said. “I had just moved to the area.”
Now in his sixth year at Nyssa, Robbins teaches jazz band, pep band, seventh- and eighth-grade advanced band, middle school beginning band, high school wind ensemble and private lessons.
When asked if he had a favorite class, Robbins replied, “every single one.”
Members of two of those classes attended the Oregon District 9 Music Festival at Four Rivers Cultural Center Wednesday. The two Nyssa classes led the wind ensemble to straight “1” rankings — the highest possible, qualifying for state competition.
“I just finished the paperwork,” Robbins said.
If the application is approved, the group will attend the state competition in Corvallis.
“I think my favorite thing (about teaching) is the students’ success,” Robbins said. “When they succeed, there’s a look in their eyes you can’t take away. It’s a real kick in the pants to see kids learn.”
