Robert "Gabe" Southard · flute

Robert “Gabe” Southard teaches at Hope College where he conducts the Wind Symphony and Anchor Band and leads the Instrumental division of the Music Education Department. Dr. Southard completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting at Michigan State University where he worked with Professor John Whitwell. He received his Masters of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied conducting with James Smith, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from Ithaca College. Prior to his residence at MSU, Dr. Southard served as Wind Symphony conductor and Flute Studio teacher at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he taught Orchestration, Music Appreciation, and Advanced Conducting. Dr. Southard served as conductor of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble. Dr. Southard has served as clinician at several high schools and taught at the New England Music Camp in 2002. He has performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Lucca, Italy Opera Orchestra, and a number of community orchestras.