Robert Venables began early cornet studies with his father Ted Venables. He was introduced to the trumpet and studied with Robert Oades (Ottawa), Stephen Chenette (Toronto) and Philip Smith (New York). He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1982 and was appointed as principal trumpet of the Hamilton Philharmonic the following August by Boris Brott.
Robert has also held principal trumpet positions with Orchestra London (Canada), The Windsor Symphony and the Phantom of the Opera Orchestra (Toronto). He has performed extensively with the National Ballet and Canadian Opera Company Orchestras and is presently the principal trumpet of The Ontario Philharmonic, The Toronto Concert Orchestra and The Esprit Orchestra. Robert recently toured China with The Esprit Orchestra as trumpet soloist. As a cornetist , Robert has traveled throughout North America and Europe as a soloist and conductor, performing with The International Staff Band , Canadian Staff Band, Amsterdam Staff Band, Southern Territorial Band, and The Brighouse and Rastrick Band (England). He is the principal cornet of the Hannaford Street Silver Band and Music Director and Conductor of The Intrada Brass. His true joy is that he and all of his six children are members of the North York Temple Salvation Army Band.