John Gruber

  • Assistant Professor of Trombone

Areas of Study

Education

  • BME, instrumental music education, Bowling Green State University, 2010
  • MM, trombone performance, University of Michigan, 2015
  • DMA, trombone performance, University of Michigan, 2018

Biography

John Gruber’s teaching career has included posts at Ohio State University, Siena Heights University, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles, and the public school system in Barnesville, Ohio, where he served as band director. He is also a faculty member of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

In addition to teaching, Gruber maintains an active performing career as principal trombonist in the Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, as well as second trombone in the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestra engagements have included the Toledo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Adrian Symphony, Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, the Galliard Brass, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek.

Gruber was the National First Prize winner in the Brass Division of the 2010 Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition.

Born and raised in Bowling Green, Ohio, he earned a BME in instrumental music education at Bowling Green State University. He added an MM and DMA in trombone performance at the University of Michigan, where he also completed a cognate in wind conducting.

Gruber’s teachers have included David Jackson, William Mathis, Dan Saygers, Michael Haithcock, and Garth Simmons.

John Gruber is an Edwards Artist.

Fall 2024

Principal Private Study - Trombone — PVST 014
Secondary Private Study - Trombone — PVST 064
Trombone Choir — APST 712
Brass Ensemble — APST 713
Chamber Music — APST 800

Spring 2025

Principal Private Study - Trombone — PVST 014
Secondary Private Study - Trombone — PVST 064
Trombone Choir — APST 712
Chamber Music — APST 800
Orchestral Repertoire for Brasses — APST 804

Notes

John Gruber to Perform With the Akron Symphony Orchestra

September 22, 2022

John Gruber will perform George Walker's Trombone Concerto with the Akron Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, September 24.

News

Meet the Conservatory’s Newest Tenure-Track Faculty

October 4, 2023

Five members of the conservatory faculty have been granted tenure-track positions beginning this academic year. They span the disciplines of music theory , composition , trombone , and TIMARA —...

This Week in Photos: Musical Interludes

May 6, 2021

A group of students wearing crimson choir robes standing among tall wild blades of grass serves as inspiration for this week’s photo series.