Grant Linsell

Grant Linsell is entering his first year as the Director of the Wind Ensemble at Willamette University.

Before coming to Willamette, he served as the Director of Bands at Minot State University in Minot, ND. Having recently completed his dissertation, "Igor Stravinsky: Wind Ensemble Works in Context" he was awarded a D.M.A. in Wind Ensemble Conducting from Arizona State University where he studied with Gary W. Hill. At ASU, he was a research fellow at the Intelligent Stage Motion Capture Facility in the Arts, Media, and Engineering Program where he worked on computer aided conductor motion analysis and on developing a conductor driven, musically responsive computer system.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Linsell attended the University of Michigan and received his Bachelors degree in Music Education and Clarinet. In Ann Arbor, he studied clarinet with Deborah Chodacki and Fred Ormand, studied conducting with Kevin Sedatole and James Tapia, and played in H. Robert Reynolds' Symphonic Band.

After U of M, Dr. Linsell taught at Spain Middle School in downtown Detroit, at the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, and was the Director of Bands at Lansing Eastern High School in Lansing, Michigan. He continued his studies at the University of Oregon where he received his Masters degree in Instrumental Conducting with Bob Ponto. In addition to his work with concert ensembles, Dr. Linsell has worked with the University of Oregon Marching Band as well as many high school marching bands across Michigan, Ohio, the Pacific Northwest, and the desert Southwest.

In his free time, Grant and his wife, Sara enjoy hiking, camping, and rock climbing.