Learn More About Stephen Roberts
Stephen (Steve) Roberts has extensive experience in education, music performance, leadership, and travel. The majority of Stephen’s work has been in Michigan, where he taught for twenty-seven years as Director of Bands at Ann Arbor Huron High School, a GRAMMY Signature school.
Steve received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan. A brass player, he was the Michigan Marching Band’s drum major for three years.
Under his leadership, the Huron Bands traveled extensively and received first place awards at music festivals in Toronto, Virginia Beach, Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, Anaheim, and Orlando. The Huron Symphony Band performed at the Michigan Music Conference in 1995, 2000 and 2016, and was the featured ensemble at the 2012 Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music at Western Michigan University. In 2014, Stephen led 130 Huron Band students overseas to France to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. While touring, they performed for large crowds in three performances in Paris and gave an emotionally moving concert at the Normandy American Cemetery. His final trip with the Huron Symphony and Jazz Bands took place in 2016 when they traveled to Spain to perform in Toledo, Granada, Seville, and Madrid.
Stephen was honored by his district music colleagues as “Teacher of the Year” in 1995, 2000 and 2016. He was honored several times in Outstanding Young Men of America, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was chosen in 2004 as Michigan’s “Director Who Makes a Difference” in the School Band and Orchestra magazine. Stephen is a member of the American School Band Directors Association and received their Award of Excellence in May 2015.
Since his retirement from public school teaching, Stephen and his wife Karen moved to Orlando, FL where they both continue to work as professional musicians. Stephen is busy with activities that connect travel, education, and music; he is currently the Director of the Central Florida Community Arts Big Band.
We are delighted to see Stephen working alongside Eric Becher again, bringing his leadership and experience to the Vavarde Team.