UCSC Wind Ensemble

 

Bio for Dr. Robert Klevan,
Director from 1998–2014

A graduate summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific, Robert B. Klevan pursued his post-graduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago and at UOP, where he received a Masters of Music Degree. In 1993, Dr. Klevan earned his Ph.D. at the University of Texas in Austin.

After a twenty-seven year career as music director and director of fine arts at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, Dr. Klevan is now in his fifth full year as Jazz Education Director for the Monterey Jazz Festival and tenth year as Director of the UCSC Wind Ensemble. He has studied conducting with David Goedecke, William Dehning, Donald Hunsberger, and Glen Richter. He made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the UCSC Wind Ensemble in May, 2001.

In addition to conducting the Wind Ensemble, Dr. Klevan also directs the UCSC Large Jazz Ensemble and teaches an Introduction to Music Education course. Dr. Klevan is Past President for the California Orchestra Directors Association, a past member of the Board for the Central Coast Section of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), a Board member for the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival and California Music Project, and currently serves as Immediate Past President of CMEA, Vice President of the California Chapter of IAJE (the International Association for Jazz Education), and as a Resource Team Member for IAJE.

In 1992, Dr. Klevan was named CMEA Educator of the Year and received the McNeely Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Monterey Jazz Festival named Dr. Klevan the Jazz Educator of the Year for 2003-2004. CMEA named Dr. Klevan Jazz Educator of the Year for 2006-2007. Dr. Klevan's articles on music teaching have been published in the Jazz Education Journal the Instrumentalist, CMEA Magazine, The Journal for Texas Music Education Research, Newsletter for the California Association of Independent Schools, The Monterey Herald, and others.

Dr. Klevan lives with his wife, Nicki, in Pacific Grove, California. He has three children and three grandchildren.