Dr. Wendell Dobbs earned a B.M. in Music Performance from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) in 1976, an M.M. in Music Performance from The Catholic University of America in 1978, and a D.M.A. in Music Performance (Flute) from The Catholic University of America 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 Music (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 premiered several works as soloist with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra, including Dr. Paul W. Whear’s Celtic Concerto. For many years, he and his wife and colleague, Prof. Linda Dobbs, spun jigs and reels in the Irish band, Blackbirds and Thrushes. He provided the music for the John Deaver Drinko Academy’s highly 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. Marshall University awarded Dr. Dobbs a Distinguished Service Award for 2023-2024.
Flute Talk – July/August 2008 Vol. 27, No10