Percussion Faculty

Dr. Robert LedBetter

Dr. Robert LedBetter is Associate Professor of Music at The University of Montana where he is Director of Percussion Studies and Associate Director of the UM Grizzly Marching Band. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, a M.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of Akron, and a B.M. in Music Education from Mars Hill College. He is currently serving as President of the Montana Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and is active on the regional and national level as a performer, clinician and adjudicator.

Prior to his appointment at UM in 1990, Dr. LedBetter taught at Eastern New Mexico University, Tarleton State University, Navarro College and held a Teaching Fellowship at the University of North Texas for a total of four years. Orchestral experience includes positions with symphony orchestras in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, New Mexico and he currently serves as Principal Timpanist and Percussionist with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra. While living in Dallas, he was lead player and soloist with the "Panhandlers," a professional steel drum band, and performed in a variety of performing situations as a freelance percussionist including several recording sessions.

Dr. LedBetter is active as a concert artist performing throughout the Northwest area and has premiered several percussion works. Dr. LedBetter is also active as a drumset player performing regularly with such groups as Critical Martini jump-blues band, Salsa Loca Salsa Band, Blue Talk and Love soul/funk band and the Ed Norton Big Band. As a member of the All-Star Trio at the UM Jazz Festivals since 1992, he has performed with such artists as Michael & Randy Brecker, Andy Narell, Ernie Watts, Bobby Shew, Terry Gibbs, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Eddie Daniels, Terry Gibbs and Buddy De Franco. Dr. LedBetter is also an active composer/arranger for percussion ensemble and steel band with numerous works under publication with Panyard, Inc. and Honeyrock Publishing and is currently completing a new method book for steel band which will be published later this year. He is an Educational Endorser for Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.