Biography

Robert Pouliot is Conductor Emeritus of The City of Fairfax Band and served as Music Director of the City of Fairfax Band Association for 30 years. His tenure as Music Director saw the organization grow and mature into a major performing arts organization serving the Northern Virginia/Washington DC metro area, comprising two full adult concert bands, several smaller satellite ensembles and a youth division. Under his leadership, the City of Fairfax Band was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Silver Scroll and represented its community in performances for the national conventions of the National Band Association, multiple performances for Association of Concert Bands conventions, including the hosting of the 2002 national convention, and represented the United States as the official band of the 73rd anniversary of D-Day in ceremonies in Normandy and Brittany, France. The band performed at venues ranging from local summer park concerts to performances at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap and the new Capitol One Concert Hall in Northern Virginia.

A champion of new music for the symphonic band, he commissioned works for CFB by David Uber, Mark Camphouse, Travis Cross, Randol Alan Bass, Ira Hearshen and Bruce Broughton. He brought a wide range of guest artists to appear with the band, including conductors Frederick Fennell and Harry Begian; composer/conductors Francis McBeth, David Holsinger, James Christensen and James Barnes; and several locally and nationally renowned instrumental artists and vocalists. His annual "Christmas in Fairfax" concerts, in partnership with the Fairfax Choral Society, became one of the area's most popular holiday programs, usually playing to an SRO audience.

Prior to his appointment with CFB, Pouliot served as a United States Air Force Band Officer, with assignments as Deputy Commander/Associate Conductor of the Military Airlift Command Band, Commander/Conductor of the Air Force Band of the East and Executive Officer and Associate Conductor of The United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC. He conducted and produced several recordings with USAF ensembles, including the acclaimed Tower Music, recorded with the USAF Band Ceremonial Brass. He conducted for ceremonies honoring former presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. His military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Robert Pouliot is a recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and the Association of Concert Bands Outstanding Conductor Award. Locally, he was honored as the recipient of the John Mason Arts Achievement Award and as an honorary chair of Fairfax's annual Spotlight on the Arts. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Concert Bands. He holds a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Connecticut, where he studied with Larry Rachleff and Jerome Laszloffy.