BOB REBAGLIATI
Bob Rebagliati is a native of British Columbia and of Kelowna, specifically in the Okanagan Valley. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree, a Teaching Certificate from the University of B.C., and a Master of Music degree from Western Washington University. While an undergraduate, Bob was involved in performances as a clarinetist, pianist and a percussionist. His main post-graduate activity was the writing of an extensive manual for the development of the young jazz rhythm section. He has continued to write curriculum in the areas of rhythm section and concert band percussion.
For over 30 years, in the North Vancouver School District, Mr. Rebagliati has directed many award winning junior and senior high school ensembles in both concert band and jazz areas. In 1976, his jazz ensemble from Hamilton Junior Secondary School won first place in the Canadian Stage Band Festival. Again, in 1979, both his Handsworth Secondary Junior and Senior Jazz Ensembles qualified for the National Finals, with the Senior Band being awarded a special plaque “for most significant contribution to jazz”. In 1986, the Handsworth Junior and Senior Jazz Ensembles won the highest honour in the country – the gold award – first place in their classes. Again, in 1988, his Senior Jazz Ensemble places first at the national festival (then called Musicfest Canada). At Musicfest Canada 2002, the Handsworth Senior Concert Band percussion section was awarded the Zildjian Percussion Scholarship “in recognition of excellence in the Art of Percussion”.
As a music festival adjudicator and workshop leader, Mr. Rebagliati has travelled throughout B.C., Saskatchewan, and to Manitoba, Toronto and Montreal (Musicfest Canada). He is well known for sessions covering concert percussion, jazz rhythm section, jazz interpretation, improvisation, and rehearsal techniques. Bob has been a director and clinician of honour concert band and jazz groups around the province of B.C.. During many summers, he has been an active group leader and teacher at music camps. Over the years, Bob has also arranged and composed music for jazz and concert bands. Recently, his composition for concert band was premiered in Vancouver.
At the 1991 B.C. Music Educators Conference, Mr. Rebagliati was honoured with the annual Professional Educator Award. In December 1991, Bob was presented with a Distinguished Citizen Award by the District of North Vancouver. In 1992, he was presented with a CANADA 125 medal by Mary Collins, MP. In 1994, he received the North Vancouver Music Educators' Award of Excellence. In May 1998, his jazz program at Handsworth School was awarded the High School “Jazz Program of the Year” by Jazz Report Magazine of Toronto. In 2001, Bob commissioned three compositions to celebrate his 25th year of music teaching at Handsworth School. In 2004, his final year of (high school) teaching, Bob premiered a musical collaboration by two of his jazz alumni, Renee Rosnes, a well-known pianist and composer, and Darcy Argue, New England Conservatory grad and composer/arranger. At this time Bob also received the Leadership In Music Education Award from the Coalition For Music Education In B.C. “for many years of outstanding contributions to the music education community”. In June 2004, his Senior Jazz Ensemble was the first school band chosen to participate in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival Student Institute, with a performance on the final day of the festival.
Throughout his career, Mr. Rebagliati has been appreciated for his dedication and insistence on excellence. He resides in Maple Riegd with his wife Maggie, where he is a freelance music educator, pianist and percussionist/drummer.