Dr. Wendell Dobbs earned a B.M. in Music Performance from Memphis State University in 1976, an M.M. in Music Performance from Catholic University in 1978, and a D.M.A. in Music Performance (Flute) from Catholic University in 1983. During his master’s and doctoral studies, his principal teacher was Bernard Goldberg. During a seven-year stint as flutist in the United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own), in Washington, D.C., he received two Certificates of Achievement for contributions as soloist and principal flutist of the United States Army Chamber Orchestra. He joined the Marshall University faculty in 1985 as Professor of Flute after two years in Paris as a French Government Scholar studying with Michel Debost and Alain Marion. At Marshall, he received the Pan Hellenic Society’s Teacher of the Year award in 1993. He was named a Distinguished Drinko Fellow in 2007 and founded the John Marshall Fife and Drum Corps as his fellowship project. Dr. Dobbs served as Interim Dean for the College of Arts and Media from 2018 to 2023. He performs regularly in a variety of settings ranging from the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and the Ohio Valley Symphony (principal flute in both) to the Violauta Duo with his colleague, guitarist Dr. Júlio Ribeiro Alves. He provided the music for the John Deaver Drinko Academy’s highly successful documentary on the life of John Marshall and produced a CD recording devoted to music from John Marshall’s era entitled Rallying Around Our Liberty.
Flute Talk – July/August 2008 Vol. 27, No10