Robert LaBarca

A retired instrumental music teacher, LaBarca received the Bachelor of Music degree from Susquehanna University in 1978 and began his teaching career in the Prince George's County (Maryland) public schools. While teaching elementary and middle school instrumental music there, he earned the Master of Music degree in trombone performance and pedagogy from the Catholic University of America (Washington DC) in 1982.

In 1985, Mr. LaBarca began his teaching career with the State College (PA) Area School District, where he taught instrumental music and was director of the district's Elementary Summer Band program until his retirement in 2016. It was during this tenure that he did his first stint as adjunct faculty at Bucknell, from 1993 to 1996, and also taught as an adjunct at Susquehanna University during those same years.

Performing has always informed his teaching. He has been the Principal Trombone of the Nittany Valley Symphony in State College since 1990 and has also performed with the Altoona Symphony and the Williamsport Symphony. He has been a member of the Commonwealth Brass Quintet since 1986, and also performs with Centre Brass in State College. He has done additional work with the Penn Central Wind Band, the Susquehanna Valley Chorale Orchestra, the State College Choral Society Orchestra, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and has performed with Marvin Hamlisch as well as the Four Tops and the Temptations.

He resumed his teaching at Bucknell in the spring semester of 2022.