In 2000, Mr. Robbins was honored as the La Paz Intermediate School and Saddleback Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year. He has been nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award, and this past year he was honored as a national quarter finalist. In addition, La Paz Intermediate Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Robbins, has been one of 6 middle schools in the U.S. selected to perform at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Fest 14 times since 2005.
Mr. Robbins continues his work with the South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra as the Associate Conductor, and has traveled to Europe 10 times as a performer/conductor with the ensemble since 2005.
Dan Robbins is married to a music and nurse educator and has two boys, Nicholas and Nolan, ages 25 and 27. A musical family, both boys are former members of the La Paz music program, as a bass and trumpet player respectively.