By: Al Weston

G eorgia College & State University special education associate professor Dr. Rob Sumowski is a gifted educator, much loved by current students and alumni. The walls of his office proudly show photos of him with his students, including ones of him serving as wedding officiant for multiple College of Education alumni. Sumowski has also served on the University Senate, even as a presiding officer for the 2023-24 school year, the highest role in the Senate. 

Sumowski’s gifts don’t end in the classroom setting, however, as he has a long-standing and decorated history as a percussionist and is one of the most highly requested percussionists in Middle Georgia. Listeners can catch his most recent work on Grammy-nominated artist Brent Cobb’s September 2023 release, “Southern Star.”

He also performed with the band earlier this month at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

“At my start, I never planned to play percussion,” Sumowski revealed. “My plan was to play drum set, until I found a great acoustic songwriter, Leighton Moore. Drum set overpowers an acoustic guitar, so I had to adjust and try using conga drums instead, which worked great with acoustic music. The calls started coming in, and within a year I was one of the only percussionists on the Atlanta acoustic scene. I got to play with all these amazing songwriters. After 30-plus years, the phone still seems to be ringing, and I am grateful.”

Sumowski’s musical experiences over three decades have varied, but all were opportunities to learn and create with some of the area’s most talented artists.

“I’ve learned a lot from working with great songwriters,” he said. “Sean Mullins and I worked together a lot back in the day. I remember fondly my time with Billy Pilgrim – featuring Kristian Bush from Sugarland. After shows we’d be dripping with sweat, trading song ideas on guitars while sitting on the floor in some hotel room on the road. Amazing memories.”

The majority of Sumowski’s session work comes at the historic Capricorn Studio in Macon, Georgia, where the Allman Brothers recorded “Brothers and Sisters.” In 2022, Sumowski was invited to perform with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi at the memorial service of longtime Gregg Allman confidant Chank Middleton. Over time, Capricorn producer Rob Evans has made Sumowski a “first call” when it comes to session opportunities.

When asked, he sees connections between his efforts as a session musician and lessons taught to today’s K-12 teachers.

“The underlying lesson of trial and error is big in both settings,” Sumowksi said. “Learning is a process, whether I’m in a recording studio figuring out what to play on this particular project or I’m in a classroom as a teacher, figuring out the best approach to reaching this K-12 or college student.

Those calls for Sumowksi’s unique skills keep coming; on Dec. 5, 2025, he played in Cobb’s Road band at the artist’s request, headlining the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ryman is widely recognized as the birthplace of country and bluegrass music.