GRCC Music

04/17/2026

Congratulations to Tyler Watkins on his amazing composition and recognition!

GRCC Recording Tech student, Tyler Watkins has been named runner-up in a national composition competition!

Tyler's piece, "This Garden of Reverie" earned him a trip to San Antonio to learn from top-notch professional musicians and has inspired Tyler to continue making music!

You can listen to Tyler's piece on YouTube with the link in the comments.

Read about Tyler's piece here: https://www.grcc.edu/about-grcc/news/recording-tech-student-selected-runnerup-national-composition-

04/14/2026

GRCC Recording Tech student, Tyler Watkins has been named runner-up in a national composition competition!

Tyler's piece, "This Garden of Reverie" earned him a trip to San Antonio to learn from top-notch professional musicians and has inspired Tyler to continue making music!

You can listen to Tyler's piece on YouTube with the link in the comments.

Read about Tyler's piece here: https://www.grcc.edu/about-grcc/news/recording-tech-student-selected-runnerup-national-composition-

04/10/2026

Direct Ticket link to GRCC Spring '26 Band Concert tonight:

03/21/2026

GRCC professors Dr. Jonah Elrod and Jonathan Marshall rocking out in front of the GRCC Music table at the 2026 Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival.

02/27/2026

GRCC's own Dr. Libor Ondras will be making his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall on June 8 where he'll lead the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra.

Dr. Ondras' story is a powerful reminder that success isn't a straight path, it's built with persistence. His musical journey began in Czechoslovakia with long commutes and inconsistent lessons. Now Ondras is associate professor of strings and director of orchestras at GRCC.

Three former GRCC students will even join Dr. Ondras on stage at Carnegie Hall.
Read the full story: https://www.grcc.edu/about-grcc/news/grcc-carnegie-hall-libor-ondras-musical-journey

02/26/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Ondras and the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra!

GRCC's own Dr. Libor Ondras will be making his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall on June 8 where he'll lead the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra.

Dr. Ondras' story is a powerful reminder that success isn't a straight path, it's built with persistence. His musical journey began in Czechoslovakia with long commutes and inconsistent lessons. Now Ondras is associate professor of strings and director of orchestras at GRCC.

Three former GRCC students will even join Dr. Ondras on stage at Carnegie Hall.
Read the full story: https://www.grcc.edu/about-grcc/news/grcc-carnegie-hall-libor-ondras-musical-journey

02/23/2026

You have 2 opportunities to see GRCC Music Ensembles in action this week! Choirs on Tuesday and the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday. You won't want to miss them!

02/21/2026

Come see the GRCC Choirs live at Saint Cecilia Music Center Feb. 24th at 7:30 pm

02/20/2026

Kaleb Gomez Corder never cared much for education, now with the support of the GRCC Music program, he's winning local composition competitions!

“All the local college music programs rejected me,” Gomez said. “Then I discovered GRCC, and it provided the bridge that I needed."

Kaleb recently won the 175 Years/88 Keys competition sponsored by the Piano Teachers' Forum of Grand Rapids with his piece entitled Yet the Blue Bridge Still Stands.

Listen to Kaleb's piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQBJVaKbrSU

Read Kaleb's story: https://www.grcc.edu/about-grcc/news/grcc-music-student-turns-early-setbacks-awardwinning-success

02/18/2026

Don't miss your chance to see 4 GRCC Music ensembles on one concert! Guitar Ensemble, Orchestra, Campus Band, and Wind Ensemble take the stage at St. Cecilia Music Center Feb. 20th.

02/15/2026

Registration is open for the 2026 GRCC Honor Band. A great opportunity for High School Students on all instruments!

www.grcc.edu/honorband

01/26/2026

A huge congratulations to GRCC Music student Kaleb Gomez Corder for winning the Piano Teachers’ Forum of Grand Rapids Composition Contest with his piece, “Yet the Blue Bridge Still Stands.” Kaleb studies with GRCC Music Professor Dr. Jonah Elrod.

You can hear Kaleb’s work at the Composition Contest Winners’ Recital on
Tuesday, February 17, at 7:00 PM
West Michigan Piano
3600 29th St. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FbbiV959b/

Join us in congratulating PTFGR Grand Rapids Composition Contest Winners! 🎶 You’re invited to attend the performance and celebrate these outstanding young composers.

⭐️ Lower Division:

Winner — Maggie Kauffman, A Walk Through Art Prize, Teacher: Vincent Frank

Honorable mention — Ember Pihl, Butterflies at Meijer Gardens, Teacher: Vincent Frank

⭐️ Upper Division:

Winner — Lunaria Naill-Alderink, Snowflakes Dancing With The Winter Winds In Aman Park, Teacher: Michele Wells

Honorable Mention — Spencer Nichols, Grand Rapids Symphony, Teacher: Joy Holtrop

⭐️ Collegiate Division:

Winner — Kaleb Gomez Corder, ...Yet The Blue Bridge Still Stands, Teacher: Dr. Elrod, GRCC

Honorable Mention — William Lee, Snowline Above The Evergreens, Teacher: Dr. Forrest Wakeman, Calvin University