Roberts, director of Music Ministry at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., was one of two finalists from 45 applicants for the position.

In addition to his role at St. John's, Roberts teaches the required course in church music at VTS. He previously taught at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he was exposed to the inner workings of seminary education. Roberts has a wealth of experience as a conductor and program builder in various congregations. Before coming to St. John's in 2002, he served as the director of Music at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, Arizona, one of the largest Episcopal churches in the United States with a national reputation for its choirs and music programs.

He is also a composer and has contributed to hymnal and liturgical resources, including Wonder, Love and Praise, Enriching Our Music, and with the Lutheran Church, A New Psalter, With One Voice, and Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

As a scholar he has published articles on topics such as women composers of church music, music in the French monastic communities of Taizé and Solesmes, and worship at "The Church of the Presidents." Roberts has served broadly in the Episcopal Church, including as chair of the Standing Commission on Church Music, chair and founding board member of the Leadership Program for Musicians, board member of the Anglican Musicians' Seminary Music Initiative, and board member of the Anglican Musicians' Mentoring Project. He received a doctor of music arts (DMA) in conducting and voice from Southern Seminary in Louisville.

VTS, founded in 1823, is the largest of the 11 seminaries of the Episcopal Church. The school prepares men and women, representing more than 40 different dioceses and 9 different countries, for service in the Church, both as ordained and lay ministers, and offers a number of professional degree programs and diplomas.