Akira Robles has a Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.  He has completed coursework toward a Doctorate in Percussion Perforamcne at the same university, under the tutelage of William Moersch and Ricardo Flores.  During his time at Illinois, Robles was involved in a multitude of performance ensembles, including the Univesrity of Illinois Bands and Orchestras, as well as the Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble, Marching Illini and Gamelan Ensemble.  He was also involved with many professional ensembles in the Champaign area, including the I-PAN Steel Band Ensembles, Champaign Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, and the Champaign Urbana Civic Wind Band.  Robles has also performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention showcase concert in 2009 and has had concerto performances with the UI Wind Symphony, and the UI Symphony Orchestra in 2010.

During his time at University, Robles was privileged to serve as a Percussion TA for the University of Illinois Bands and Marching Illini for 3 years.  His responsibilities included writing for and teaching the Marching Illini Drumline, as well as equipment care/maintenance for the entire band program and teaching marching methods courses to non-percussion music majors.  Robles also gained teaching esperience by teaching private lessons to undergraduate percussion majors, and assisting with rehearsal/conducting with the UI Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of William Moersch.

Robles has been heavily involved in the marching percussion activity since 2003, in both DCI and WGI.  He has performed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2003-2005) and the Phantom Regiment (2006-2007) as a bass drummer, as well as the 2008 WGI World Champions Rhythm X.  Since aging out of DCI, he has taught such drum corps as the Revolution, Glassmen, Phantom Regiment, and is currently on staff with the Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara, CA.

Currently, Robles is teaching at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL as well as Fremd High School in Palatin, IL.  His responsibilities include teaching/conducting the Percussion Ensembles, drumline, and holding regular clinics and master classes for the percussion studio.  He also maintains a large private lesson stdio in the Chicagoland area, and regularly assists with drumlines and marching bands in the area.  Robles is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion and Remo.