Meet the Faculty
Rob McWilliams
(920) 424-7016
mcwilrob@uwosh.edu
Dr. Rob McWilliams, an internationally accomplished musician, conductor, and educator, was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. A United States resident since 1991, Dr. McWilliams holds a Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne.
Dr. McWilliams began his career as a music educator at Eltham College, an independent K-12 school in Melbourne. During his seven-year tenure at this school he initiated a new instrumental program and directed its development into an accomplished and award winning program recognized throughout the country. For the next five years, Dr. McWilliams served on the faculty of the University of Melbourne Institute of Education where he taught and coordinated courses in brass, jazz, and instrumental music pedagogy and conducted the Wind Symphony, Brass Choir, and Jazz Big Band. He has also served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in most states of Australia, and as an examiner for the Victorian Board of Education and Victorian College of the Arts.
The Australian Wind Orchestra has regularly retained Dr. McWilliams' conducting services since its inception in 1990. Under his direction as one of the regular conductors, the orchestra has toured and performed at major international music conferences in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In July 1995, Dr. McWilliams conducted the Australian Wind Orchestra at the prestigious World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Dr. McWilliams also has extensive experience as a performer on trumpet and keyboard and has performed with a number of domestic and international symphonic ensembles and jazz groups. Being an experienced and popular guest conductor and clinician has provided Dr. McWilliams with the opportunity to travel extensively and work with professional and amateur school and adult musicians. In the U.S. he has served as guest conductor and clinician in Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio working with high school and university musicians and honor bands at the state and regional levels. While resident in Minnesota Dr. McWilliams served as Musical Director for the Roseville Community Band and Associate Conductor of the Grand Symphonic Winds, two civic adult performance groups based in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.
Dr. McWilliams is currently Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in instrumental music education.