Bob Lark is recognized regionally, nationally and internationally as a contemporary jazz educator and performer of integrity. His approach to pedagogy and rehearsal techniques has been noted by participation in professional conferences, publication of articles, compact disc recordings as both a performer and ensemble director and direction of numerous student honor ensembles. DownBeat magazine recognized Bob’s work in 2010 with the Jazz Education Achievement Award.
In 2013, DePaul University honored Bob as an ambassador for the DePaul Distinctions campaign. He serves as Professor of Jazz Studies at DePaul University. Under his direction, the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble has produced several awards from the Jazz Educators Journal, DownBeat and JazzTimes magazines and has recorded albums with several legendary jazz artists, including Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew and Bob Brookmeyer.
In speaking of Bob, jazz icon Clark Terry stated, "He's a very good trumpet player; a very good musician. He's paid his dues.” Recordings on the Jazzed Media label include those by the Bob Lark/Phil Woods Quintet, Bob Lark and his Alumni Big Band and Bob Lark and Friends with Phil Woods, Rufus Reid and Jim McNeely. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Bob authored the book iWarmUp for Trumpet (Mountain Peak Music, 2018), a systematic warm-up that covers a wide depth of jazz styles designed to coordinate with the iReal Pro application. Bob is an active clinician, soloist and guest conductor. He has served as host of the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition, is the Past President of the Illinois unit of the International Association for Jazz Education and has chaired the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Improvisation Competition. Throughout the 1990s, Bob directed the Midwest Grammy High School Jazz Band. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance from the University of North Texas, having earlier earned a master’s degree from the same school and a Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University.
