South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra

Maestro Dan Robbins, is in his 31st year teaching instrumental music at La Paz Intermediate School in Mission Viejo, CA. Mr. Robbins teaches Intermediate and Advanced Band as well as String Orchestra and two Jazz Ensembles. Mr. Robbins is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.

Mr. Robbins spent 10 years as the director of the Mission Viejo High School Jazz Ensemble #1. In 2000, Mr. Robbins was honored as the La Paz Intermediate School and Saddleback Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year.  He has been nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award, and this past year was honored as a national quarter finalist. In 2010, Mr. Robbins had the honor of conducting the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Middle School Honor Jazz Ensemble. In addition, the La Paz Intermediate Jazz Ensemble has been one of 6 middle schools in the U.S. selected to perform at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival 14 times since 2005. Other honors include performances at the IAJE International Conference in 2002 and the Jazz Education Network National Conference in 2015.

Mr. Robbins continues his work with the South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra as the Associate Conductor and has traveled to Europe as a performer/conductor with the ensemble since 2005.  As a musician, Mr. Robbins has performed at Disneyland in the Christmas Parade, Aladdin’s Royal Caravan, and as a host for Disney’s Magic Music Days. Mr. Robbins also played fanfare trumpet for the 1984 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Los Angeles.  In addition, Mr. Robbins played in the Sea World Beach Band and has traveled to Europe 11 times as a performer and conductor.

Mr. Robbins is married to a musician and nurse educator, and has two sons, Nicholas and Nolan, ages 26 and 24.  A musical family, both boys are former members of the La Paz Intermediate School music program, as bass and trumpet players, respectively.