Rob Opitz
Artist-in-Residence, Kennesaw State University
Mr. Rob Opitz holds the title of Artist-in-Residence in Jazz Trumpet at Kennesaw State University. Originally from Illinois, Mr. Opitz’s career has ranged from elementary music, to middle school, high school, and now at the collegiate level. Mr. Opitz has been the Director of Bands at Marietta High School, Creekview High School, Barber Middle School, and Reinhardt University.
Rob has been a four-time clinician for the Georgia Association of Jazz Educators Clinic Band Festival. He has been an adjudicator for both the District 7 and District 12 GMEA Jazz Festivals. Rob currently serves as the Director of Jazz at Milton High School, Jazz trumpet instructor for the Lovett School, in addition to his duties at Kennesaw State University.
Rob is a very active performer. Rob completed a 4 week tour with international superstar Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. The tour featured multiple US Cities, Austin City Limits, and the Jimmy Kimmel show. Rob is the founder and director of his own group, the Atlanta Latin Jazz Orchestra – an 18 piece big band featuring the music of some of the greats in Latin Jazz. This group employs the top call players in the southeast.
He has also appeared as a sideman with Tito Puente, Louis Bellson, Marian McPartland, Rufus Reid, Hal Crook, Marshal Royal, Jon Faddis, Diane Schuur, Paquito D’Rivera, Cladio Roditi, Bob Mintzer, and many more. Rob has performed in local groups in the metro Atlanta Area, including Orquesta MaCuba, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra Jazz Ensemble, Yacht Rock Revue, Bumpin’ the Mango, Bogey and the Viceroy, the Joe Gransden Big Band, Macon Pops Orchestra, and numerous others.
Rob is a proud Schilke Trumpet artist, and is proud to have an affiliation with a company that has such dedication to excellence in brass!
