Staff and Leadership

Staff

Director of Athletic Bands

Shaun Evans

Shaun Evans is the Director of Athletic Bands at Shenandoah University, where he guides all aspects of the athletic band program and teaches marching band, pep band, and conducting. Evans holds a doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Minnesota. He received a master of music degree in conducting at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor of arts degree at Georgia State University. His career began as a band director in Cobb County, Georgia, at Harrison High School. He currently lives in Stephenson, Virginia, with his wife, Hannah, sons Elias and Lincoln, and two dogs.

Evans is a strong advocate for music education. He works with high schools and colleges across the country as a guest conductor, clinician, arranger, and drill writer. He is published as part of GIAs Teaching Through Performance in Band series. Evans is a charter member of the Nu Alpha chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and an honorary member of the Alpha Iota chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. He maintains active memberships in College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, Virginia Music Educators Association, Performing Arts Medicine Association, and World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.

Director of Bands

Tim Robblee

Tim Robblee is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Shenandoah Conservatory where he guides all aspects of the wind band program, teaches conducting and conducts the Wind Ensemble and EDGE Ensemble. Prior to his current appointment, he served as the Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern University where he was also music director and conductor of the Contemporary Music Ensemble. Previously, Robblee has also served as Director of Bands at Washington State University in Pullman, WA and Willamette University in Salem, OR. Prior to graduate study, he taught for eight years as an instrumental music educator in the Palo Alto, California public schools where his students and ensembles were recognized for excellence on a state and national level, including recognition from the 1997 Downbeat Magazine Student Music Awards as the Outstanding High School Jazz Combo. Robblee maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor in the United States, Canada, and Asia. He is published as part of GIAs Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. As an advocate of music in the public schools, he has presented at music education conferences throughout North America and adjudicated at numerous music festivals. Robblee maintains active memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Virginia Music Educators Association and World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensemble.

Graduate Assistant

Ben Millesen

Ben Millesen is a percussionist and educator currently studying at Shenandoah Conservatory, pursuing a Master of Music Performance degree under the direction of Dr. Karlyn Viña. He will be working as a graduate assistant for the brand new Shenandoah University Marching Band drumline.

Ben has had the privilege to perform in JMU’s Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the Marching Royal Dukes. During his time at JMU, Ben performed in the premiers of Radiance by Eric Guinivan, The Sword of Shannara by Dennis Luginbill, and Nature Scenes by Jack Yagerline. In addition, Ben has also had experience in jazz bands, pep bands, and musical pit orchestras. 

As an educator, Ben has taught as a percussion instructor at multiple high schools throughout the Shenandoah Valley, such as Bath County High School and Harrisonburg High School. Ben has also taught both in-person and online lessons to private students ranging from the elementary school level to the high school level. 

Ben holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from James Madison University, under the direction of Casey Cangelosi. Ben has also had the privilege of studying with renowned teachers, including Laurel Black, Roger Braun, Marlon Foster, Dr. Caleb Pickering, Ryan Swanson, and Aaron Trumbore.

 

Leadership Team