Rate My Professor Ron Gerhardstein

Ron Gerhardstein serves as Associate Professor of Music, Director of Band Studies, and Advising Associate for Music at Pacific Lutheran University since 2014. In this capacity, he directs the PLU Wind Ensemble and instructs courses within the music education curriculum, such as Band Repertoire and Rehearsal, Woodwind Labs I and II, Percussion Lab, Music and Culture, and PLUS 100: Transitions to PLU. Before joining PLU, he was the band director at West Valley High School in Yakima, Washington, leading acclaimed concert, jazz, and marching bands. Gerhardstein possesses over 18 years of K-12 music education experience in public and private institutions across Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, teaching both instrumental and vocal music.

Gerhardstein earned his Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University in 2001, studying with Edwin Gordon and Beth Bolton; a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Idaho in 1993 under Robert Miller; and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Idaho in 1989. His scholarly contributions include a publication in GIA Publications' Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, Volume 11. Gerhardstein has been honored with the 2014 WMEA/WIAA Music Educator of the Year award and has guest-conducted notable ensembles, including the 2019 APAC Honor Band in Kobe, Japan, and the 2017 WMEA Junior All-State “Rainier” Band. A prominent leader in the field, he served as President of the Washington Music Educators Association from 2022 to 2024 and currently as Past-President through 2026, alongside roles as WIAA Fine Arts Honorary Board Member from 2020 to 2024 and NAfME Music Teacher Profession Advisory Committee member since 2024. He is also a frequent workshop clinician, guest conductor, and festival adjudicator, and directs the Pacific Northwest Honor Band and PLU Band Invitational.