Oklahoma City University and the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras announced today that internationally renowned conductor Jeffrey Grogan has accepted a joint position with the two organizations.
Effective July 1, Grogan will serve as conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra at Oklahoma City University’s Bass School of Music and artistic director of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestras as well as conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, the flagship ensemble of the organization.
“By hiring one of the nation’s top orchestral conductors, Oklahoma City University shows its continued commitment to instrumental music in offering the very best musical training for our students,” said Music Dean Mark Parker. “Jeff Grogan will be a formidable addition to our outstanding faculty and will enhance our national reputation.”
OYO Executive Director Melody Garza said Grogan has a lot to offer to OYO students and the entire musical community.
“Even in our earliest communications in the search process, it was obvious that Jeff’s passion and expertise are an excellent fit for the organization. Now celebrating 40 years of providing top quality music education to students in Oklahoma and with this truly exceptional new artistic director at the helm, Oklahoma Youth Orchestras is primed to elevate students, families and our community through music to previously unseen heights.”
Grogan has served as adjudicator, conductor and clinician for many prestigious national and international festivals including the Honor Orchestra of America sponsored by Music for All, the Association for Music in International Schools in Singapore, the National Orchestra Cup at Lincoln Center and the Honors Performance Series Orchestra and Band at Carnegie Hall.
He most recently served as education and community engagement conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conductor and artistic director of the NJSO Youth Orchestras, the InterSchool Orchestras of New York and the New Jersey Youth Symphony.
Grogan’s prior experience includes teaching at the University of Michigan, Ithaca College and Baylor University, where he taught conducting and trained future music educators. He is also the former associate director of bands and marching band director at the University of Michigan and Baylor University.
Grogan succeeds Eric Garcia, who served as OYO’s first artistic director when the unique partnership role with Oklahoma City University was created in 2015. He accepted a new position as music director of the Boise Philharmonic. For more information about OCU’s Bass School of Music visit okcu.edu/music and for more information about Oklahoma Youth Orchestras, visit oyomusic.org.
