Rob Falvo is an associate professor of music at Appalachian State University, where he heads the percussion department, teaching applied lessons and directing the ASU Tabla Ensemble, New Paradigm Percussion Quartet and ASU Percussion Ensemble. 

Dr. Falvo is a member of the Philidor Percussion Group and has performed with the North Carolina, Greensboro, Asheville, and Western Piedmont Symphonies.  He is a frequent recitalist and clinician in North Carolina and has performed throughout the United States, China, and Japan with such groups as the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, and the English Chamber Orchestra.  Falvo has performed in the New York metropolitan area with the New Music Consort, Pulse Percussion Ensemble, The New Music Orchestral Project, and many symphony orchestras and off-Broadway shows with recordings on Newport Classics, DMG, and Koch labels.  In the summer of 1999, he revisited Japan to perform a recital of Native American flute and percussion works at the International Conference Hall in Kyoto and in the 2001-2002 school year was on a teaching exchange in England studying North Indian Tabla with Pandit Sharda Sahai and teaching at Kingston University in Kingston, England. 

In May 2007, Falvo graduated from the Chesapeake Bay Alexander Studies – North Carolina Teacher Training Program and in June 2007 became a certified teaching member of Alexander Technique International.  He is a member of the New Music/Research committee of Percussive Arts Society and has earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance from the Manhattan School of Music studying with Fred Hinger, Chris Lamb, James Preiss and Claire Heldrich.

Concert Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Rob Falvo, Conductor

The Percussion Ensemble includes approximately eighteen percussionists. The ensemble performs newly -composed and standard works representing a variety of styles including contemporary, fusion, Latin, pop, ragtime, and performance art. The ensemble has performed throughout North Carolina, Europe, and northern Africa.  In Nov. 2003, the ensemble performed during Focus Day at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. 

The New Paradigm Percussion Quartet, Dr. Rob Falvo, Conductor

The New Paradigm Percussion Quartet comprises of four percussion students who are selected by the instructor to perform advanced percussion quartet literature. They present one major concert throughout the school year usually in the Spring semester and perform on various recitals throughout the season. Literature has included, Fugue by Lou Harrison, Third Construction by John Cage, Snow In June by Tan Dun, The Whole Toy Laid Down by Dave Hollinden, Black Page by Frank Zappa, and Caprice for percussion and electronic tape by Art Kreiger.

The Tabla Ensemble, Dr. Robert Falvo, Conductor

The ASU Tabla Ensemble comprises of 6-10 student percussionists performing traditional North Indian tabla compositions from the Benares baj. Beginning students learn basic bols called VARNA which are 5 strokes on the dahina (te te, tin, na, ta), and 2 strokes on the baya (ka, gha). They progress to extended strokes and combination strokes (dha, dhin, dhe, dhere dhere, etc.) and then to phrases (dhaStirakitataka, etc.) eventually learning compositions for their first soli. The soli is built on various compositions: bhumika/uthan, moharas, mukhras, kayadas, relas, gats, parans, and tukaras.

SYMPHONY   

• 1998-present: Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro, NC, extra percussionist.
• 1994-present: North Carolina Symphony, Raleigh, NC, extra percussionist.
• 1993-present: Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Asheville, NC, extra percussionist.
• 1992-1993:     Westchester Symphony, Westchester, NY, percussionist.
• 1991-1996:     Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, New York, NY, timpanist/percussionist.
• 1988-1992:     National Orchestral Association, New York, NY, timpanist/percussionist.
• 1991:             Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, USA tour, extra percussionist.
• 1988:             English Chamber Orchestra, USA tour, extra percussionist.

CONTEMPORARY CHAMBER

• 1996-present: Broyhill Chamber Ensemble, Boone, NC, percussionist.
  
• 1996-present: Philidor Percussion Group, North Carolina, percussionist.
  
• 1991-1996:     Erick Hawkins Dance Company, New York, NY, USA tours, Japan-China tour, percussionist.
  
• 1887-1993:     New Music Consort, New York, NY, percussionist.

MUSICALS

• 1994-1997:     The Blowing Rock Stage Company, Blowing Rock, NC, percussionist.
  
• 1992-1993:     TNT Company, “Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding”, Off-Broadway, percussionist.
  
• 1992:             N.N.N. Company, “Balancing Act”, Off-Broadway, percussionist.
  
• 1991:             FourQuest Entertainment, Theatre-By-The-Sea, Matunuck, RI, percussionist.

OPERA, CHORUS and ORCHESTRA

• 1995-1999:     Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra, New York, NY,  timpanist.
  
• 1992:             Dessoff Choirs, New York, NY, timpanist.
  
• 1989-1992:     Brooklyn Lyric Opera, Brooklyn, NY, timpanist.

RECITALS

• 1993-present: Appalachian State University, solo and joint recitals.

RECORDINGS

• 2006:             Philidor Percussion Group, Equilibrium label
  
• 1997:             Appalachian State University Percussion Ensemble, Boone, NC.
  
• 1992-1995:     Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Newport Classics, Koch labels, timpanist, percussionist.
  
• 1992-1995:     Kjos Music Company, educational recordings,
  
• 1992:             N.N.N. Company, “Balancing Act”, DRG label, percussionist.

• Golden Age of the Xylophone Rob Falvo, solo xylophone with ASU Wind Ensemble
• Anvil Chorus by David Lang, performed by Rob Falvo
• Concerto For Marimba 3rd Movement by Marta Ptaszynska, performed by Rob Falvo
• Indian music performed by Daisy Paradis, sitar; Akal Dev Sharone, flute; Rob Falvo, tabla
• Lex by Michael Daugherty; performed by the ASU student percussion quartet with Nancy Bargerstock, violin; conducted by Rob Falvo
• Study In The Form Of A Prelude And Fugue by Jose Ardevol; performed by ASU and UNC-Asheville combined percussion ensembles; conducted by Rob Falvo