Dr. Robert Campbell was born in Glasgow Scotland in 1917. Dr. Campbell came to Schenectady area at the age of 7. He was a 1935 graduate form Nott Terrace High School. and graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca College with a bachelor's degree
in music education in 1940 and a masters in music education in 1950. Dr. Campbell went on to earn a doctorate in music from Boston University in 1956. Mr. Campbell joined the Schenectady school system in 1940, serving on the faculty
and subsequently as chairman of the music department at the former Nott Terrace High School. He also was music director at the former Linton High School. He was director of numerous area choral groups, including the Union College Glee
Club, the former Schenectady Women's Chorus and the General Electric Electricaires. Mr. Campbell served .as music program director for the Schenectady County Council of Churches during the mid-1950s. He was the recipient of two Ford Foundation Fellowships, which allowed him to study at Harvard University in 1955 and at Bennington College in 1959.
Mr. Campbell was a member of the summer faculty at the College of Music of Boston University in 1956, teaching on the graduate and post-graduate levels. He was on the summer faculty at Bennington College in the early 1960s, heading an institute for high school music teachers. He also directed a summer music education workshop at the State University College at Potsdam. He was a guest conductor for the area All-State Music Festival in 1969, directing the choral program. He conducted the New Hampshire All-State Choir at the annual New Hampshire Music Educators Conference in 1963, and conducted the All-State Music Festival choir in 1974.
In 1964, Mr. Campbell was named supervisor of music for the Schenectady public schools, a post he held until his retirement in 1975 with 35 years of service. After retirement, he served as executive secretary-treasurer of the New York State School Music Association. In 1967, Mr. Campbell was named editor of the School Music News, the official magazine of the New York State Music Association. The publication received the Outstanding State Journal Award from the Music Educators National Conference in 1989.
He was the author of numerous articles for professional publications and co-author of music books.
The Capital Artists Opera Company appointed him choral director in 1979. Mr. Campbell was a member of the Music Educators National Conference; the New York State School Music Association, where he served as executive director; a member of Pi Kappa Lambda national honorary scholastic music fraternity; a member of the New York State Federation of Teachers; a recipient of the Oracle Award, as the most outstanding music student in his class at Ithaca; and an advisory council member of the New York State Teachers Association. In Schenectady, he was a member of the executive board of the Civic Music Association;.a member of the advisory board of the Schenectady Symphony; an adviser to numerous music festivals, including the Albany Catholic Diocese Music Festival Committee and the Schenectady Music Committee; and a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Performers.
Dr. Campbell is survived by his children Dr. Robert Campbell, Betsy Nejman, Polly Campbell and Margaret Castagna. The Robert H. Campbell '40, M.S. '50, Endowed Choral Composition Prize was
stablished in 2008 by Jeanne Gray '48, Dr. Anthony Maiello '65, '67 and Dr. Steven Schopp '66