Rate My Professor Jonathan Guist

Dr. Jonathan Guist serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the College of Fine Arts, contributing to the Arts and Culture faculty through his expertise in clarinet performance and pedagogy. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music (2004), a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Baylor University (1999), and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from New Mexico State University (1996). His principal teachers were Kenneth Grant of the Eastman School of Music and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Shanley of Baylor University and Waco Symphony Orchestra, and Laroy Borchert of New Mexico State University and El Paso Symphony Orchestra. Guist began his academic career with graduate teaching assistantships at Eastman and Baylor, followed by positions at Nazareth College, Hochstein School of Music and Dance, and the Conservatory of Central Illinois. In 2007, he joined the University of Texas at Brownsville as Assistant Professor of Music, advancing to Associate Professor in 2012, and transitioned to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2015 in the same role.

At UTRGV, Guist teaches applied clarinet, clarinet ensemble, clarinet methods, and chamber music, directing the UTRGV Clarinet Ensemble and serving as woodwinds area coordinator. His performance career includes principal clarinet positions with the Valley Symphony Orchestra (2009-present), Eastman Philharmonia and Wind Ensemble (2000-2003), Baylor Symphony and Wind Ensemble (1997-1999), and Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra (1994-1996). He has appeared as soloist with the Valley Symphony Orchestra, UTRGV Symphony Orchestra, and UTRGV Wind Ensemble, and performed at International Clarinet Association conferences in Baton Rouge and Belgium, National Flute Association Annual Conference, Texas Music Educators Association National Conferences, and College Music Society conferences. Guist has presented masterclasses at institutions including University of North Texas, Texas A&M University-Commerce, University of Maryland, George Mason University, Universidad de Costa Rica, and Puebla Conservatory of Music. As a chamber musician with Frontera Chamber Players, Frontera Trio, and Sin Fronteras New Music Ensemble, he has premiered works such as Dream Fantasies IV by Russell Reed and Fantasy for Wind Trio by Kenneth Kreuzer, advocating for new music and chamber repertoire.