Riverview Band Program Welcomes New Director, Robert A. Luster
The Riverview Band Program is proud to formally introduce our new incoming director of instrumental music, Mr. Robert A. Luster. Mr. Luster joins Riverview High School after four years of leading the band and orchestra programs at C. Leon King High School in Tampa as director of instrumental studies.
In his current role, Mr. Luster oversees the Band Program’s Blue Coat Regiment Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Blue Radiance Color Guard Program and Indoor Percussion Ensemble, in addition to the Orchestra Program’s Concert Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra.
Originally from Lakeland, Mr. Luster has been a music educator for more than 13 years with a track record of his bands and orchestras regularly receiving Superior ratings at Florida Bandmasters Association and Florida Orchestra Association events. Prior to King, Mr. Luster was the director of bands for two years at McLane Middle School in Brandon. While at King High School, Mr. Luster and his team successfully hosted the largest marching band competition in Central Florida—the Lion’s Pride Marching Festival—catering to all levels of marching band, competitive and non-competitive, annually attracting 28 bands to compete. Mr. Luster also instilled in the King Lions a new competitive vision for the program in his four years there, allowing even more success for the band program and its students and families.
Mr. Luster is a proud graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science in music education. At USF, he performed with the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra consistently being named principal horn. Prior to graduation, he was privileged to work with various high school band programs throughout the state, including Joe E. Newsome High School, Brandon High School, Sunlake High School, Haines City High School, Lakeland High School and Mulberry High School. Most notably during his time with Newsome High School, the Wolfpack Marching Band competed in the 2015 Bands of America Delaware Regional and earned the top spot against 30 other bands. Newsome students were also featured on television performing in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
In addition to his extensive background in marching band, Mr. Luster brings a wealth of knowledge from the world of Drum Corps International (DCI), having spent four years as a performing member and mellophone soloist: He marched with Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Jacksonville, FL in 2008, 2010 and 2011, and spent his last season in with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps from Boston, MA in 2012. After a brief break from DCI, in 2014 he led the mellophones as a member of their brass staff for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps from Tempe, AZ.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Luster is happily engaged to his lovely fiancée Claudia and will be married this coming December. They have two adorable cats and regularly spend time at Disney together.