One of the most performed composers of band music in the world
Robert Sheldon's music is performed around the world and appears on many international concert and contest lists. With over three million copies of his compositions and books sold, Mr. Sheldon regularly accepts commissions for new works, and produces numerous publications for concert band and orchestra each year available through Alfred Music, Belwin Publications, Make Music Publications, Excelsia Music, Wingert-Jones Music, Randall Standridge Music, FJH Music, the CL Barnhouse Company, Robert Sheldon Music, and JW Pepper.
Featured Items
Sound Innovations
Undoubtedly the BEST option for starting beginners in a post-COVID teaching environment.
Freefall
Commissioned for the 40th Anniversary of the Southwest Community Concert Band, this technical juggernaut imagines the thrill of skydiving, replete with moments of spinning, whirling, gliding, floating, trepidation, anticipation, peace and joy.
Birthday Band-O-Rama
Quirky arrangement with Flexible Instrumentation for as few as four players!
Glorious Revolution
Inspired by the 1688 overthrow of King James II, this powerhouse composition also has parts of varying difficulty levels available to allow it to be performed with musicians of all levels of experience.
By the River's Edge
With parts available of varying difficulties on Total Sheet Music, this piece can work well for virtual performances since it fun to play and has no tempo changes!
Music FUNdations
A truly innovative workbook that addresses important values seamlessly incorporated with musical excerpts, exercises, and music activities. Now available for Band AND for Strings!
What's new?
This has been a very busy writing time here in Normal, Illinois. Several commissions have kept me occupied with lots of joyful music creation, and I am so incredibly grateful to those who have asked me to write music for their ensembles! Recently completed commissions include:
Like a River - Pontiac Municipal Band, Scot Schickel, Director, Pontiac, IL
Trip the Light Fantastic! - Tipton High School Band. Matthew Skiba, Director,
Tipton, Indiana
The Lakes - New Horizons Band of the Lakes Region, Debbi Gibson, Director, Belmont, New Hampshire
Laude! - DeMatha Catholic High School Instrumental Music Program, Carlos Castrillon, Director, Hyattsville, Maryland
The Trace - Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu (Mississippi)
A Hollingsworth Celebration - Hollingsworth Winds of Polk County, Ivan Wansley, Artistic Director/Conductor, Lakeland, FL
True Blue - Commissioned by the Wheaton Municipal Band, Bruce Moss, Conductor, Wheaton, IL
Allegheny Footprints - Commissioned by the Allegheny Valley Band Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
On to Excellence! - Commissioned by the Webber Academy Bands, Jeff Bryant and Kevin Willms, Directors, Calgary, Alberta
The Wolves of Nashoba - Commissioned by the Nashoba Symphonic Band, David Bailey & Joe McCarthy, Directors, Bolton, MA
Sinfonia #3 for Trombone and Concert Band - Commissioned by Carl Anderson, Peoria, IL
I have been extremely fortunate to have had many pieces designated as a JW Pepper "Editor's Choice" over the years. This year, nine of my ten new releases have been listed as Editor's Choice.
These are my new publications (the title is the link to the catalog page):
ALFRED MUSIC
- Pacific Crest - Commissioned by the Northwest Bandmasters Association
- The Parting Glass - For the United States Army Ceremonial Band, Washington, D.C.
- Voyages
MAKE MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
- Cherished - Commissioned by Jim Hill, Monroe, NC
- Sentinel - Commissioned by the Jupiter High School Band, Jupiter, Florida, Ryan Ross, Director
EXCELSIA MUSIC
- Incandescent Sky - Commissioned by the First Coast Wind Symphony, Jacksonville, Florida, Artie Cliftin, Conductor
- Commonwealth - Commissioned by the Katherine Johnson Middle School Band, Fairfax, Virginia, Charlie Burts, Director
RANDALL STANDRIDGE MUSIC
- River of Grass - Commissioned by the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Dan Bassett, Conductor
My sincerest thanks to all of these wonderful band directors for asking me to write for their bands. It was not only an honor and a privilege, but it was also GREAT FUN! I truly appreciate their support in allowing me to continue to create music. I am so thankful to all of them as well as the publishers who are producing and distributing the music!
Upcoming commissions include:
St. Clair High School Band, Tim Karth, Director, St. Clair, MO
The Fogelberg Foundation, Eric Mills, President, Peoria, IL
Cincinnati Wind Band, Jim Daughters, Conductor, Cincinnati, OH - to be premiered in Carnegie Hall, New York City
Northwest North Carolina Bandmasters Association, Winston-Salem, NC
Hillcrest Wind Ensemble, Christian Tordahl, Artistic Director, San Diego, CA
Western Wisconsin Music Conference High School Honor Band, Westby, WI
Southwest Symphony Orchestra, Palos Heights, IL
Lisle High School Bands, Lisle, Illinois, James Stellmacher, Fine Arts Department Chair, Scott Gumina, Phillip Meyer, and Dan Schraub Band Directors
All-Japan Band Association, Tokyo, Japan
Chatham Concert Band, Vaugn Pugh, Chatham, Ontario, Canada
Suncoast Concert Band, Robert Stoll, Music Director, Sarasota, Florida
Birmingham Concert Band, Patrick Jensen, Conductor, Birmingham, MI
Another project for which I was so proud to be a participant was the American Bandmasters Association "Reflections" Project. Several of the ABA composers have contributed a musical underlay that accompanies a wonderful narration which can be read over the music, or played from a recording, available by a number of speakers in several languages. This brief piece is meant to provide an inspiring message of unity and peace prior to the performance of our national anthem, or another piece such as Amazing Grace or America the Beautiful at the beginning of a concert program. These pieces are made available free of charge for download on the ABA website for all bands worldwide, and will be available at all grade levels. You can find all of the Reflections Pieces HERE. You can hear my offering by searching the title, One World, Many Voices which was recorded recently by the United States Air Force Band.
And finally... During some of my clinic appearances discussing unique ways to engage your students and community, I have told the story about my "Birthday Band" I formed with some talented and enthusiastic senior band members during my teaching career. They would run out to surprise faculty members at unexpected times on their birthdays to play a quirky arrangement of Happy Birthday to You that also included snippets of the William Tell Overture, Hallelujah Chorus, Ode to Joy and Stars and Stripes Forever. Inevitably I would be asked if I still had the arrangement and if they could get a copy for their own band to play, but unfortunately, I did not keep a copy of that when I left that school 20+ years ago. HOWEVER, due to numerous requests, I have resurrected this bit of musical insanity and scored it for flexible instrumentation, playable by nearly any combination of winds, strings and percussion, and it is now available on my website entitled, Birthday Band-O-Rama.
The Band Director's Toolkit
This 42-page eBook offers 20 compelling ideas for improving your band today.
Access the eBook for free