Jazz at Grand Valley
Jazz Performance
Large Jazz Ensemble
Our Large Jazz Ensemble performs both traditional and contemporary jazz music, including new works composed especially for us. We perform concerts, at dances, on tours, and at jazz festivals. Open to music majors and non-majors. Audition required.
Small Jazz Ensembles
The small ensembles focus on mastery of tunes from the jazz repertoire. Emphasis is on improvisation and arranging using lead sheets and original compositions. Interview with instructor is required prior to registration.
Private Lessons in Jazz Performance
Students interested in performance are encouraged to study their instruments with our classical performance faculty. In addition, opportunities exist for specialized study in jazz keyboard, guitar, percussion, and jazz bass.
Jazz Course Offerings
Jazz Theory
Two-semester sequence of courses that explore chord voicings, contemporary jazz harmonic progressions, substitute progressions and various scales used in the jazz idiom. Substantial analysis of tunes taken from the jazz repertoire. You must have completed two years of music theory study at the college level and have permission of the instructor to register.
Composition
A tutorial course in which students pursue their own creative projects. By permission of the instructor.
Ryan Christianson
Director of the GV Jazz Ensemble
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 venues and institutions as the Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA), the New World School of the Arts (Miami, FL), the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (Chicago, IL), the Big Sky Classical Music Festival (Big Sky, MT), and the OK Mozart Festival (Bartlesville, OK), as well as numerous other MEAs, universities, concert halls, and high schools. Ryan has also held positions with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra and Millikin-Decatur Symphony, and performed chamber recitals with members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera orchestras.
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 numerous residencies with big bands and New Orleans-style brass bands at a variety of clubs and 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 with a minor in Music Education 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.
Michael Drost
Director of Laker Jazz Combos
Michael Drost is a professor of jazz at Grand Valley State University where he teaches jazz improvisation, jazz guitar, jazz bass and coaches the small jazz ensembles. Michael divides his time performing and teaching in jazz throughout West Michigan. Michael's versatility as a multi-instrumentalist has allowed him to share the stage with an eclectic mix of musicians including Caissie Levy (Wicked, Ghost), Jonathan Brandmeier, Frank Stallone, John Slade, Paul Mabin, Michael Harvey, Mel Torme, Kenny Werner, Darmon Meader, and the touring cast of “Anything Goes”. Throughout his career Michael has performed with many notable Midwest musical groups and artists such as the Take Three Jazz Trio, Standing Room Only Orchestra, Generations, Groove Merchant, Groove Solution, Daniel James Band, NYCO, Three Cent Stomp and the Holland Symphony Orchestra.
As a multi-instrumentalist/composer/music producer Michael has been a regular in many studios and jingle houses. His playing and compositions can be heard on television and radio ads, including spots for Amtrak, Discover Card, Comcast Sports, CNN Sports Retro, America's Test Kitchen, The Musky Hunter, Tim Hawkin's Comedy, The Huntin' Junky and many more. Much of Michael's most recent music production work has been composed and produced for a royalty free music library named Digital Juice. His music continues to receive national and international network placement.
Michael graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Western Michigan University. During his formative years Drost studied with Craig Linenberger, Steve Zegree, Trent Kynaston, Fareed Haque, Tom Knific and Bob Palmieri. While at WMU, Michael received two Down Beat magazine awards: "Best Jazz Instrumentalist" and "Best Blues/Pop/Rock Group".
For more information or to schedule a meeting or an audition, contact:
Jazz Ensemble
Ryan Christianson
[email protected]
Jazz Combos
Michael Drost
[email protected]
During the summer:
Office of Music Theatre and Dance
(616) 331-3484