Robert (Bob) Pruzin was a native of Brooklyn, New York. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the State University of New York al Potsdam. He earned the Masters of Music in Performance at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with continued postgraduate work at the University of Maryland and Northwestern University. Mr. Pruzin served as principal horn of the United States Marine Band, The President's Own, in Washington, D.C. from 1971-1975.

Professor Pruzin came to the University of South Carolina in 1978 after serving on the music faculty of the University of Alabama. After several years as Director of Advisement and Student Teaching, he was appointed Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Music Studies for theSchool of Music in 1993, serving until 2013. He was a member of the School of Music faculty for 35 years, earning the University of South Carolina Mortar Board Society's "Excellence in Teaching" award as well as frequent mentions from graduating students as a person who significantly contributed to their success.

For 33 years Professor Pruzin was principal horn in the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a member of the Augusta Symphony Orchestra from 1977-2011 and performed with the Augusta Opera, the Augusta Choral Society, and numerous Columbia Music Festival Association events. From 1983-2003, he was an artist-in-residence at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts.  He was the creator, producer and artist performer in "Bring Mozart Alive!" from 1989-2005. Dressed as a court musician from the time of Mozart, Professor Pruzin performed for more than 20,000 elementary school children throughout the Carolinas. He also served as a reviewer of brass quintet literature for Woodwind World Magazine and had several articles published in Brass and Percussion Quarterly.

Professor Pruzin appeared as a soloist at the International Horn Society symposiums in New York, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, and Australia; at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C.; and with numerous regional orchestras throughout the southeast, earning critical acclaim wherever he performed.