Ron Gerhardstein

Associate Professor of Music; Associate Director of Bands

Phone: 253-535-7609

Email: gerharrc@plu.edu

Office Location:Mary Baker Russell Music Center - Room 212

Office Hours: (On Campus) Mon - Fri: By Appointment

  • Professional
  • Biography

Additional Titles/Roles

  • Music Education

Education

  • Ph.D., Music Education, Temple University, 2001
  • M.M., Saxophone Performance, University of Idaho, 1993
  • B.M.E., University of Idaho, 1989

Responsibilities

Music education courses, student teaching and practicum supervision and conductor of University Concert Band

Accolades

  • 2014 WMEA / WIAA Music Educator of the Year
  • Director of the 2017 WMEA Junior All-State “Rainier” Band
  • Published in the GIA Series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume 11

Biography

“Joining the PLU music faculty after a long career as a public school music educator is a dream come true. Directing the PLU Concert Band is icing on the cake! Working with the band allows me to stay connected with our most precious asset here at PLU – our students. Their commitment to music and the arts, in addition to their academic interests and life of service is admirable and inspiring. Attaway Lutes!”
– Dr. Ron Gerhardstein

Ron Gerhardstein is Associate Professor of Music Education at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) where he teaches coursework in the music education curriculum and serves as the conductor of the PLU Concert Band.  In addition, he instructs Music 101 (Introduction to Music) and supervises music practicum and student teacher placements.

Dr. Gerhardstein has taught instrumental and vocal music in both public and private settings in the states of Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Ohio for 18 years.  He earned the Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University where he studied with Edwin Gordon and Beth Bolton.  He studied saxophone performance with Robert Miller at the University of Idaho.

From 2005 – 2014, he was the band director at West Valley High School in Yakima, WA.  His band program had a strong reputation for excellence in all areas (Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Marching Band).  His WVHS groups won numerous awards of excellence and have been honored with clinic performances at the WMEA state conference as well as guest artist jazz performances with Terell Stafford (2011) and Wycliffe Gordon (2013).  Ron is an active member of WMEA serving a term as the Regional President of the Yakima Valley region, WMEA All-State Concert Band Site Manager, and was elected to the WMEA Board as the Band Curriculum Officer for the 2010-12 Biennium.  He serves often as a mentor for young teachers, clinician, festival adjudicator, and has worked as a guest conductor for the Lower Columbia Region, the Washington Ambassadors of Music, and he directed the 2017 WMEA Junior All-State “Rainier” Band.

From 1998 – 2001, he served on the faculty of Ohio Wesleyan University teaching elementary and secondary methods and supervising student teaching placements.

Dr. Gerhardstein was honored as the 2014 WMEA / WIAA Music Educator of the Year.  He makes his home in Tacoma with his wife, Jerilyn, a first-grade teacher in the Bethel School District.