Algonac Bands - Director

Robert Gras
Director of Bands

Robert Gras is a 1987 graduate of Charlotte High School and a 1993 graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in music education/performance. His principal instrument is percussion. He has done graduate work at Central Michigan University and Michigan State University.

From 1994-2001 Robert was the Director of Bands at Bay City Central High School and Bay City Handy Middle School. Under his direction the high school program grew to include 4 concert bands, 2 jazz bands, a pit orchestra and a 220 member marching band. He served as musical director for the school musicals Guys and Dolls, 42nd Street, the Music Man and West Side Story. Robert also served as the associate conductor of the Bay Concert Band and served as President of the Bay Music Foundation. His ensembles received consistent good and superior ratings in MSBOA District Concert and Marching Band festivals.

In 2001 Robert took over as Band Director for the Algonac Community Schools. During his tenure the High School enrollment has increased from 35 to 101. The MS program enrollment has increased to include more than 50% of the middle school population. The Algonac bands have received consistent Good and Superior ratings at MSBOA District Marching and Concert Band Festivals and MSBOA State Band Festivals, and have participated in Disney's Magic Music Days and the Dixie Classic Band Festival in Chicago. The Algonac Bands annualy send as many as 20 students to Blue Lake fine arts camp.

In 2006 the Algonac HS Symphonic Band received an "Excellent" rating at the Dixie Classic Festival in Chicago, Illinois. The band returned to the Dixie Classic Festival in 2009 and received a "Superior" rating, the highest available, the Festival Judge's Award for Most Oustanding Woodwinds, and were .25 points from finishing as the Honor Band (highest overall score) for the festival.

The Algonac WAVE Percussion Ensemble was founded by Mr. Gras in the fall of 2001 and has competed in MCGC and WGI events in Michigan and Ohio, and has won the State Championship in class Percussion Michigan A in 2005 and 2006. The ensemble now competes internationally in class Independent A, bringing in students from surrounding area high schools, St Clair County Community College, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.

Robert was a finalist for the Algonac Teacher of the Year award in 2003 and 2005.

Robert was a seven year member of Mid-Atlantic Band Camps and has also taught at numerous marching and concert band summer camps in Michigan, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Ohio. He has performed with the Battle Creek Symphony, Tony Bennett, the Kalamazoo Concert Band, the Bay Concert Band, the Saint Clair Community College Concert Band and the Comstock Concert Band as well as with the John Lipinski Big Band and the District 5 All Star Jazz Ensemble.

Robert owns and operates Music Educators Service, a company that provides custom drills for marching bands and as well as original publications for concert, symphonic and marching bands and percussion ensemble. He also holds a 1st gup (red belt/black stripe) in Tae Kwon Do and is active in the martial arts under the tutelage of Dr. William Brady, 5th dan black belt at Lifecare Martial Arts in Algonac, MI.

Mr. Gras currently resides in Algonac, Michigan with his wife Cheryl, daughter Deanna, and son Tristan.