Music Director & Conductor
About Robert Shroder
Bob Shroder is an award-winning conductor and flautist who comes from a distinguished music lineage. First taught music by his grandfather, Augusto Samaniego Sr., conductor of the Magdalo Band, and a member of the world-renowned Philippine Constabulary Band that performed for the inaugural parade of United States President William Taft in 1909. Prior to FASO, Shroder served as the principal flautist of two major orchestras: the Manila Symphony Orchestra, one of Asia's first symphony orchestras, and the Manila Chamber Orchestra. In 2002 he was the founding conductor for the Boyle Heights Youth Symphony, demonstrating his creative vision and leadership in a predominantly Latino community as its first Asian member.
In his youth, Shroder earned acclaim when he won the grand prize of the National Music Competition for Young Artists. He majored in flute, and minored in chamber music and conducting at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, where he became the principal flautist of the Philippine Youth Orchestra.
Shroder has had extensive training under distinguished musicians such as: Enrique Barcelo, principal flautist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra; Helen Quach, conductor of Manila Symphony Orchestra; Lorenzo Palomo, pianist and conductor of Deutsche Oper Berlin from 1981 to 2004; among others. With his outstanding academic achievements, he became a lifetime member of the Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity.