Hayes School of Music

Shawn Roberts is an active and eclectic performer, serving as Principal Percussionist with
the American Prize-winning Western Piedmont Symphony since 2010, accompaniment for
the Appalachian State University Dance Department, and active percussionist with the
Hickory Choral Society, Piedmont Chamber Singers, NC Brass Band, and da Capo Brass.
Notable performances include the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C., the Lotus Blossom World Music and Arts Festival in Bloomington, Indiana, and
Director of the West Virginia University Steel Band during the induction of Ellie Mannette
into the Percussive Arts Hall of Fame. Dr. Roberts founded World Wide Productions in
2005, overseeing various musical and artistic endeavors, including Eya! Afrolachian Drum
and Dance Troupe performing and teaching traditional music and dance from a variety of
countries across the African continent, the Caribbean and Middle East.

In addition to performance, Dr. Roberts is passionate about community programs. He
conducts numerous workshops in schools both public and private, has served as a scholar
and coordinator for Mapping the Beat, a program under the aegis of Arts Bridge America
and funded by National Geographic, partnered with Upward Bound, Gear Up, and the
Western Youth Network in creating music programs for underprivileged youth, and
residencies with the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) serving
academically gifted children across North Carolina.

He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from West Virginia University where he focused
on non-Western percussion while maintaining performance in Western traditions. He holds
an MM in Percussion Performance and a BM in Music Education, both from Appalachian
State University. Dr. Roberts currently teaches humanities courses at both Caldwell
Community College and Appalachian State University, as well as private and group
instruction through the ASU Community Music School.