Greig Ashurst

Music, Technology, and More

Greig Ashurst has cultivated an illustrious pedagogical and conducting career spanning over three decades, encompassing various domains such as technology, educational philosophy, and music throughout the United States. He has held the position of music educator at universities and public and private institutions in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. At present, Mr. Ashurst holds the positions of Director of Bands and Director of Technology at Cathedral-Carmel School. He was honored twice previously, in 2009 and 2003, respectively, at North Vermilion High School in Maurice, LA, and CW Stanford Middle School in Hillsborough, NC, both for which he was named "Teacher of the Year." Furthermore, he holds the position of Youth Music and Instrumental Director at Asbury United Methodist Church, located in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Greig Ashurst made his professional debut as a percussionist. Following his graduation from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a Bachelor of Music Education, Mr. Ashurst established and maintained a prosperous teaching career in both Louisiana and North Carolina.  He relocated to Dallas, Texas in 2003 to attend Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts for instrumental conducting.  Following his graduation from SMU with a Master of Music, he returned to Louisiana.  He frequently appears with other local ensembles, including the Acadian Winds, the Chorale Acadienne, and the Acadian Symphony. 

Mr. Ashurst has amassed a distinguished professional background in the field of Music, where he has instructed, directed, and delivered clinics, seminars, and keynote addresses across the United States.  Recently, he presented clinics at the annual conferences of the Connecticut Music Educators Association and the Michigan Music Conference. This year, some of Mr. Ashurst's notable conducting engagements include conducting the Indiana All-State Handbell Ensemble and the International Handbell Symposium in Hamamatsu, Japan.

As a music education and technology consultant for Schulmermich Bells, LLC, he was instrumental in the development of numerous products.  He was a member of the design and implementation group for the electronic handbell-like instrument MelodyWave.  He designed and introduced the Greig Ashurst Artists Series and the Greig Ashurst Legato Series, two new lines of professional performance mallets that have revolutionized the timbral landscape of contemporary handbell performance and music.  

In addition to numerous articles in local and national music journals, GIA Publications, Hope Publishing, and From the Top Publishing have all published his music.

Greig Ashurst holds multiple positions within a multitude of organizations, including that of board member for the Southwest Louisiana Band Directors' Association and president of the Handbell Musicians of America.


Mr. Ashurst is married to Lafayette, Louisiana-based Lauren Montgomery Ashurst.  Luc (17), Sam (16), and Katherine (19) are their offspring.




EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

2003–2005

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX 

Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting  

Full Artistic Scholarship 

Graduate Assistantship 

Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society 

 

June 2002

California State University

Sacramento, CA 

Graduate hours in Conducting  

 

July 2001

Ryder University – Westminster Choir College

Princeton, NJ 

Graduate hours in Music Education  

 

1990–1996

University of Louisiana

Lafayette, LA 

Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Instrumental 

Minor in French

Performance Scholarships 

TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS 

 

Louisiana 

K-12 Instrumental Music 

K-12 Vocal Music 

Gifted/Talented Arts in Music 

ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND TEACHERS

Conducting 

Jack Delaney, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 

Paul Phillips, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX

David Davidson, Dallas Symphony Chorus Dallas, TX 

Mike Votta, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 

Michael Keller, private teacher Baltimore, MD 

Michael Haithcock, University of Michigan Sacramento, CA 

William Hochkeppel, University of Louisiana Lafayette, LA 

Andrew Johnson, University of Louisiana Lafayette, LA 

 



Percussion

Doug Howard, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX

Jon Lee, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 

Jan Metzger, Elon University Elon, NC 

Adam Mason, University of Louisiana Lafayette, LA 

 

Composition 

Simon Sargon, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 

Kevin Hanlon, Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

NAfME (National Association of Music Education) 

LMEA (Louisiana Music Educators Association)

HMA  (Handbell Musicians of America)  

NFHS (The National Federation of High Schools)

SLBDA (Southwest Louisiana Band Director’s Association) 

TI:ME (Technology Institute for Music Educators) 

PAS (Percussive Arts Society) 

ISTE (The International Society for Technology in Education)