About the Director
Robert D Rubio
Artistic Director & Conductor
Artistic Director and Conductor Robert D. Rubio brings over four decades of distinguished musical leadership, dedication to education, and artistic vision to his role. A passionate advocate for the arts, Robert has dedicated his life to fostering musical excellence, mentoring the next generation of musicians, and building vibrant community ensembles.
Artistic Vision & Leadership
Since 2015, Robert has served as the Director and Conductor of the Fiesta Flutes of San Antonio. Under his leadership, the ensemble has achieved significant milestones, including a coveted selection to perform at the prestigious National Flute Association Convention in 2024.
Before dedicating his talents to Fiesta Flutes, Robert enjoyed a stellar 33-year career in public music education, retiring in 2016. Throughout his teaching career, he served several Texas school districts—including Quanah, Pecos, Austin, Taylor, and Northside ISD in San Antonio—before concluding his public school tenure as the Director of Bands at Stevens High School. A landmark highlight of his career was the selection of the Stevens High School Wind Ensemble as a featured ensemble at the University of Alabama Honor Band Festival in 2010.
His profound dedication to teaching and artistic development earned him numerous accolades, including:
- Campus Teacher of the Year (Taylor High School)
- Fine Arts Teacher of the Year (Stevens High School)
- HEB Excellence in Education Award Nominee (2000 & 2004)
Professional & Community Impact
An active clinician, adjudicator, and mentor, Robert is deeply embedded in the music education community. He is an active member of key professional organizations, including TMEA, TBA, Phi Beta Mu, and TMAA. Over the years, he has held numerous vital leadership roles, including:
- Texas State Chair for the National Band Association (NBA)
- Region 11 TBA Representative
- TMEA Region 11 Vice President and Band Division Chair
In recognition of his enduring support for music education and the Texas Bandmasters Association, Robert was honored by the TBA Board of Directors with the prestigious 2025 TBA Music Industry Award, presented to business members with a long history of dedication to the Texas band community.
Business Ventures & Travel Industry
Robert’s passion for creating memorable group experiences extends seamlessly into the travel industry, where he has been involved since 2016. Since 2020, he has served as the director and part-owner of Note-Able Travel Experiences. Navigating the global pandemic marked a defining turning point for the business; guided by a strict mission of integrity, Robert and his team proudly worked tirelessly to ensure that every single client was made whole, ultimately achieving a 100% refund rate for everyone whose travel was disrupted.
Background & Personal Life
Robert's musical roots were nurtured early on at Seagraves High School, where he actively participated in both band and choir under the mentorship of Bill Woods and Bonnie Anderson. He pursued his higher education at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University), earning a Bachelor of Music Education in 1983 and a Master of Music in 1993.
When he is not standing on the podium, composing or arranging music for the Fiesta Flutes, or organizing seamless travel experiences, Robert loves spending time with his family. He shares his life with his wife, Lisa, his daughters, Ashley (and partner Chris) and Emily (and husband Leo), and his granddaughters, Violet and Flora (both born in 2024)—who remain his ultimate daily motivation.