Jason P. Robison

Director of Bands
Smith/Waddell Academy of International Languages

            JASON ROBISON’S musical interest began at age 11 as a middle school band student in southern Louisiana .  This interest propelled him into high school band/orchestra/jazz in Wilmington, North Carolina where he attended and graduated from John T. Hoggard High School .  During this time at Hoggard he performed with the school’s Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz band.  He also had the honor of participating in several different North Carolina All-State and Honors Orchestras, as well as All-District Bands.  Inspired by former teachers, Mr. Robison decided on a career in music education.

            In December of 2003, he graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Studying under Professors Harry McLamb and Christopher Ackerman, he received his Bachelors in Music Education, Cum Laude.  He also attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he studied with Professors James Ketch and Dr. David McChesney. 

            Mr. Robison has enjoyed a very diverse musical career filled with opportunities to perform with such great musicians as Slide Hampton and Vincent Herring.  He has attended Master’s Classes with virtuoso trumpeters such as Arturo Sandoval and Phillip Smith of the New York Philharmonic.  From January 2002 through May of 2004 Mr. Robison maintained a permanent seat in the trumpet section of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.  Other performance credits include the Wilmington Theater Company, numerous community events, as well as wedding and religious services.  Jason was invited to join a Wind and Choir ensemble that toured extensively throughout Germany and Austria in 2004. Mr. Robison performed with the Carolinas Wind Orchestra from 2004-2010.  Recent performance honors include the 2005 American Bandmaster’s Association Convention, Southeastern Division Music Educators National Convention, 2007 Performances in Malgrat De Mar and Barcelona Spain music festival, 2009 North Carolina Music Educators Convention, and 2010 American Bandmaster’s Association Convention.

            Teaching privately since 1998, Mr. Robison was also honored to be named student director of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ’s Jazz Lab Band.  His two teaching internships allowed him the opportunity to gain valuable experience in both the high school and middle school band fields.  While teaching at Ashley High School he assisted in the direction of the school’s Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band.  He then worked with his mentor, Steve Morgan, at Myrtle Grove Middle School .  Upon completion of his internships he assumed the position of Director of Bands at Waccamaw K- 8 in Ash, North Carolina .  With the desire to broaden his own educational experience, Mr. Robison accepted the position of Director of Bands at the Smith Academy of International Languages and moved to Charlotte in July of 2004.  The band program at Smith Academy has more than doubled in size since Mr. Robison’s arrival (now 200 members strong) with critical acclaim being awarded his newly developed Jazz band.  His 6^th, 7^th, 8^th grade concert and jazz bands have consistently been awarded Superior ratings at festivals since 2007.  Several of Mr. Robison’s students consistently audition and make local, regional, and all-state honors bands.  Mr. Robison serves as the North Carolina South Central District Bandmaster Associations Middle Representative from 2010-2012.  In addition to Mr. Robison’s teaching and performance obligations he recently completed a masters degree in Wind Instrumental Conducting at Winthrop University.  Jason is supported by his beautiful wife Rebecca, also a teacher at Smith/Waddell Academy.

            In July of 2010, Mr. Robison was selected as the musical director of the Queen City Brass Band, a community band formatted as a traditional British Brass Band.