Grand Valley State University Music Program

06/02/2026

After serving as a Visiting Professor last year, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Ryan Christianson to GVSU full-time as Assistant Professor of Trombone and Jazz!

Ryan Christianson is a multifaceted performer and educator whose career has spanned numerous styles and settings. As the trombonist of the internationally-touring Dallas Brass, Ryan has presented masterclasses and performances around the country including at such institutions as the Colburn School, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Big Sky Classical Music Festival, and the OK Mozart Festival as well as numerous other MEAs, universities, and concert halls. Ryan has also held positions with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and Millikin-Decatur Symphony and appeared as a guest artist and soloist at universities and trombone days across the Midwest.

In addition to his work as a classical trombonist, Ryan maintains a prominent career as a freelance commercial and jazz performer. Notable appearances as a commercial musician include at the North Coast Music Festival with EDM artist Diplo, on ABC’s Shark Tank with the McNasty Brass Band, and opening for Bruno Mars at the 2023 Illinois Gubernatorial Inauguration. As a jazz artist, Ryan has appeared with groups at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, and in residencies with big bands and New Orleans-style brass bands at a variety of venues across the Chicagoland area. Additionally, Ryan was a finalist in the International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Competition in 2014.

A dedicated educator, Ryan has previously held positions at Millikin University and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Prior to college teaching, he maintained a studio of middle and high school students through which students were regularly placed in the top honor bands, orchestras, and jazz bands in Illinois. Ryan holds a DMA in Trombone Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a MM in Jazz Composition from DePaul University, and a BM in Trombone Performance from the University of Minnesota. He is a performing artist and clinician for Conn-Selmer instruments and Denis Wick mouthpieces and mutes.

06/02/2026

We are excited to welcome Rebecca Salo to GVSU this Fall as Assistant Professor of Horn!

Rebecca Salo is an active horn performer and teacher. She currently holds the position of Principal Horn with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and she regularly performs with a variety of chamber ensembles. Previously, Rebecca has held positions as Principal Horn in the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Second Horn in the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Horn in the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra; and she has performed with other orchestras including the Lexington Philharmonic and the Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green. As a soloist, Rebecca has appeared with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Purdue Wind Ensemble, and Kokomo Park Band, and she has performed numerous recitals throughout the Midwest.

As a teacher, Rebecca is passionate about working with students of all ages. She maintains an active private studio in addition to her teaching at Grand Valley, and she regularly organizes performance opportunities for her students. During the summers, she teaches on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Previously, Rebecca was the Consortium Instructor of Horn at the University of Evansville. Additionally, she founded and directed the Evansville Homeschool Band, a beginning band program for homeschooled students.

Rebecca completed her Master of Music degree in Horn Performance at Indiana University, under the guidance of Jeff Nelsen with additional coaching from Dale Clevenger in orchestral repertoire and Rick Seraphinoff in historical performance. She has also pursued doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Peter Kurau. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, and prior to her undergraduate studies, she spent a year studying abroad at the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland, with Kazimierz Machala.

Please join us in welcoming Professor Salo to GV! ⚓

05/14/2026

When fans enter the new Acrisure Amphitheater in Grand Rapids to hear their favorite artists, they will first hear the venue's official theme song performed by Grand Valley State University music students: https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/something-big-gvsu-orchestra-records-amphitheater-theme/

05/05/2026

As we shared last week, our Symphony Orchestra had the opportunity to record a signature song for the new Acrisure Amphitheater, opening this summer in Downtown Grand Rapids!

Read more about the collaboration on GVNext:

When the Acrisure Amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids opens, guests will be greeted by an opening theme performed by the Grand Valley Symphony Orchestra. The recorded work is slated to play before every event at the venue.

05/01/2026

04/28/2026

Every year, each program at GVSU selects a graduating student as their Excellence-in-a-Discipline Award Winner. This year's recipient for Music is Andrew Kales.

Hometown: Orchard Lake, Michigan
High School: Bloomfield Hills High School
High School Orchestra Teacher: Scott Wolf

Ensemble/Production/Organizational Involvement at GVSU:
-ASTA Student Chapter (President 2 years, Vice-President 1 year)
-Symphony Orchestra (Concertmaster + Co-Concertmaster, 3 years)
-Laker Jazz Combo (4 years)
-New Music Ensemble
-University Band
-Past experiences in Dr. Mahave-Veglia’s class chamber ensembles

"My ultimate goal is to build such a strong community in an orchestra class that regardless of why a student is in my future class, they feel welcome, a sense of belonging, and can make lifelong friends along the way."

Congratulations to Andrew on this achievement; read more about Andrew at www.gvsu.edu/mtd/excellence

04/22/2026

The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is seeking applications for a full-time, visiting faculty position in collaborative piano and class piano to begin in August 2026. This is a non-tenure track, one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal for up to 3 years.

Please visit the link below for more information and to apply!

Summary: The Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is seeking applications for a full-time, visiting faculty position in collaborative piano and class piano to begin in August 2026. This is a non-tenure track,....

04/21/2026

Thanks to GVNext for highlighting our partnership with the St. Cecilia Music Center's Youth Orchestra, which provides Music Education students with professional experience and real-world learning.

Read the article linked below to learn more about this program developed by Associate Professor Dr. Joel Schut and funded through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Voyage Experiential Learning Pilot Program.

Music education students are gaining professional experience as mentors to youth orchestra members.

04/21/2026

Tonight, join us for a joint performance from the Anima Vocal Ensemble and the Varsity Glee Club!

Anima Vocal Ensemble & Varsity Glee Club
Dr. Chuck Norris, conductor
Dr. Andrew Lenhart, collaborative pianist

7:30 PM
Cook Dewitt Center
Free and open to the public

04/20/2026

Tonight, join us for the final performance of the semester from the University Arts Chorale!

University Arts Chorale
Dr. Chuck Norris, conductor
Dr. Andrew Lenhart, collaborative pianist

7:30 PM
Cook-Dewitt Center
Free and open to the public