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Jonathan Glawe (from Waterloo,Iowa) is currently the Director of Orchestras at GRAMMY award-winning Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kansas and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Oregon. Prior to his time in Oregon, Glawe taught in the Darien Publics Schools in Darien, Connecticut.

As a double bassist, Glawe has performed with many orchestras throughout the Midwest, Northeast, and Northwest including the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra in Waterloo, Iowa, the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra in Lawrence, Kansas, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra in Topeka, Kansas, the American Chamber Orchestra in Norwalk, Connecticut, and the Eugene Symphony Orchestra in Eugene, Oregon.

As a clinician, Glawe has presented clinics on a wide variety of topics all over the country. Some of these include a presentation on the topic of double bass bows at the Connecticut Music Educators Association in 2006, a “Jazz String Curricula and History” lecture at the University of Kansas in 2008, an “Alternative Styles Pre-Conference Panel Discussion” for National ASTA in Atlanta in 2009, and 2 clinics panels for National ASTA in 2011 on the topics of “Effective Use of Student Leadership” and “Alternative Styles Curricula.” In 2013, he presented a solo clinic entitled:  "From a Classical Power House to an Eclectic Curriculum: Trials and Tribulations of High School Orchestra Programs in Transition" at the National ASTA Conference in Providence, RI. Glawe has also done a wide variety of guest conducting appearances with youth ensembles in and around Michigan. 

Currently in his 16th year at Pioneer High School, Glawe has played an important role in the their return to the GRAMMY Signature School list, in which the Pioneer Music Department was honored as one of the top 3 music programs in the nation in 2010 and 2015, and earned the honor of being the National GRAMMY Signature School in 2011. In his time at Pioneer, he has successful taken his ensembles to perform in New York City in 2009, Austria and Germany in 2011, San Francisco in 2013, and Italy in 2015. Glawe is the director and founder of the yearly Pioneer orchestra camp that takes place each August on the campus of the beautiful Interlochen Center for the Arts. In his time at Pioneer, Glawe has coached the Pioneer orchestras to a wide variety of successes in technique and performance in the classical setting while enhancing the orchestra curriculum with his knowledge of eclectic string styles. He has done this while aiming to maintain and further develop the high quality of classical musicianship that Pioneer has traditionally been known for. Glawe was recognized as MSBOA District 12 Orchestra Director of the Year in 2011, 2013 and 2015.  He was a finalist for the Michigan Orchestra Director of the Year in 2012. He was selected as the Michigan String Teacher of the Year award from the American String Teachers Association in 2021.

Notable guests to work with the Pioneer Orchestras during Glawe’s tenure: Jon Deak, Christopher Kendall, the Takacs String Quartet, Anthony Elliot, Marian Tanau, Larry Dittmar, Gabe Bolkovsky, Gabriel Villasurda, Aaron Berofsky, E. Daniel Long, Marijean Quigley-Young, Rachel Lauber, Robert Boardman, Kevin Miller, Scott St. John, Peter Chun, Hunter Capoccioni, Rebecca Hunter, Christopher Lees, Giancarlo Latta, Jacob Joyce, Stephanie Boyd, Paul Sharpe, Brooks Whitehouse, Bobby Yang and his Unrivaled Players, Soo Han, Chiara String Quartet, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Barry Green, Alasdair Neale, David Barg and Michael Adelson.

 

Recognition, Accolades and Special Achievements

  • 2008: Hired as new Director of Orchestras at Pioneer High School

  • 2009: Successful trip to New York City with 120 students

  • 2010: Pioneer Music Department chosen as a GRAMMY Gold School ($5000 award)

  • 2010: Successful trip to Austria and Germany with 81 students

  • 2010: Implemented a summer camp for Pioneer Orchestra students in Interlochen, Mi

  • 2011: Pioneer Music Department chosen as a GRAMMY Signature School ($15,000 award)

  • 2011: Voted as the Orchestra Director of the Year by District 12 of the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association

  • 2011: Concert share with Soo Han and the Carmel High School Orchestras

  • 2012: Chosen as a finalist for the Michigan Orchestra Director of the Year award

  • 2012: Published in Back to School edition of American String Teacher

  • 2012: Hosted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Pioneer High School

  • 2013: Pioneer Symphony Orchestra performs at the Michigan Music Conference

  • 2013: Hosted Maestro Michael Adelson for Orchestra Night

  • 2013: Pioneer Chamber Orchestra performs and wins the grand prize at the National Orchestra Festival in Providence, RI

  • 2013: Clinician for the University of Illinios Orchestra Festival

  • 2013: Published on Alfred Ledger Lines, Topic: Teaching Appreciation and Encouraging Curiosity of Classical Music in Your Orchestra

  • 2013: Trip to San Francisco with 112 members of the Pioneer Orchestras

  • 2013: Pioneer performs the world premiere of Newtown Peace Anthem by Julie Lyonn Lieberman

  • 2013: Voted as the Orchestra Director of the Year by District 12 of the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association

  • 2014: Named MASTA Newsletter Editor

  • 2014: Pioneer performs world premiere of the Fiddle Concerto, composed for Kiana June Weber

  • 2015: Voted as the Orchestra Director of the Year by District 12 of the Michigan Band and Orchestra Association

  • 2015: Hosted the Toyota City Junior Orchestra in a Friendship Concert with the Pioneer Symphony Orchestra

  • 2015: Trip to Italy with 120 members of the Pioneer Orchestras

  • 2016: Hosted the Okemos High School Philharmonic in a String Orchestra Festival, Tchaikovsky Serenade

  • 2016: Attended and represented the US in a symposium of Music Education in Stockholm, Sweden with a quartet from the ensemble

  • 2017: Trip to New Orleans with 110 members of the Pioneer Orchestras

  • 2017: Music Performance of Symphony Orchestra at the Midwest Clinic

  • 2018: Tagore on Soul and Strings performance with Concert Orchestra

  • 2019: Trip to London with 145 members of the Pioneer Orchestras

  • 2019: Pioneer celebrates the 10th anniversary of the orchestra camp

  • 2020: Fall, presents the first Pioneer Orchestra Fall Showcase (virtual) using the Upbeat Music App

  • 2021: Glawe named MASTA String Teacher of the Year

  • 2023: Pioneer Symphonic Strings perform at the Michigan Music Conference

  • 2023: Trip to Germany and Czechia with 145 members of the Pioneer Orchestras

  • 2024: Glawe named the Elizabeth A.H.Green Educator Award by the American String Teachers Association

 

 

Reid Smith, Co-Director of Pioneer Orchestras

Reid Smith (from Saline, Michigan) is currently a strings specialist for the Ann Arbor Public Schools.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Michigan and completed graduate work on a full academic scholarship from Michigan State University.  Smith taught in Duluth, GA, St. Charles, MO, and Farmington, MI.  

As a cellist Smith performed with orchestras throughout Georgia, Missouri, and Michigan.  His teachers include Dr. Diane Winder, Anthony Elliott, Debra Fayroian, and Suren Bagratuni.  Passionate about eclectic styles of music Smith regularly plays and performs Bluegrass, Old Time, Swing, Jazz, and many other styles of music.  His love of various styles comes from his time in the Saline Fiddlers as a student, Assistant Director, and Artistic Director.

As a teacher Smith’s orchestras performed at the Georgia Music Education Association Conference, and the ASTA National Conference in 2007, and the Midwest Clinic in 2008.  His time in St. Charles, MO was spent building a program from 40 students to 160 when he left in 2010 to pursue his graduate degree.  

Smith earned a full Graduate Assistantship from MSU where he taught World Music, A History of Rock from Elvis to the Present, and String Pedagogy.  During his time at MSU Smith was nominated for the Somers Excellence in Teaching Award, was a finalist for the university wide Citation for Excellence in Teaching, and observed string student teachers while Dr. Judy Palac was on sabbatical.  

During his time in Farmington, Smith grew the high school program from 68 students to over 100 while commissioning works for his orchestras from Dr. Michael Hopkins of the University of Michigan and Brad Phillips, artist in residence at the Purple Rose Theatre.

Smith lives in the area with his wife, two sons (Lloyd & George), and black lab.  He enjoys spending time with his family, going to the lake, fly fishing, and cooking.