Greig Ashurst

Music, Technology, and More


For more than thirty years, Greig Ashurst has developed an impressive conducting and teaching career in many facets of music, technology, and educational philosophy across the United States. A native of Lafayette, LA, he has served as a music educator in public and private schools and universities in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas. Currently, Mr. Ashurst is Director of Bands and Director of Technology at Cathedral-Carmel School, where he was selected as the 2016-2017 “Teacher of the Year,"  an honor for which he was selected twice previously at North Vermilion High School in Maurice, LA in 2009 and CW Stanford Middle School in Hillsborough, NC in 2003. Additionally, he serves as Youth Music and instrumental Director and staff arranger at Asbury United Methodist Church of Lafayette, LA.

In addition to his current posts, since his return to Lafayette, LA, in 2005, Greig Ashurst has held positions as the conductor of the Acadiana Symphony Conservatory Orchestra from 2007–2011, including a guest conducting appearance with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in 2009. Additionally, he worked as Director of Music at Grace Presbyterian Church from 2006–2013 and taught both instrumental and choral music at North Vermilion High School from 2005–2012.

Greig Ashurst began his career as a percussionist. After completing his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Mr. Ashurst enjoyed a successful teaching career in Louisiana and North Carolina.  In 2003, he moved to Dallas, TX to study instrumental conducting at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.  After earning a Master of Music degree at SMU, he returned to Louisiana.  He performs regularly with the Acadiana Symphony, the Chorale Acadienne, The Acadian Winds, and other local ensembles. 

As a clinician, Mr. Ashurst has had an illustrious career teaching, conducting, and presenting clinics, workshops, and keynote addresses throughout the United States.  Recent and upcoming engagements include teaching clinics and conducting choral and instrumental ensembles throughout the US.  

As a music education and technology consultant with Schulmerich Bells, Inc., Greig Ashurst had an integral part in many new technologies and musical instruments.  He was on the design and implementation team for the MelodyWave instrument, an electronic instrument played similar to handbells.  He developed two new lines of professional performance mallets called the Greig Ashurst Artists Series and the Greig Ashurst Legato Series, which have been widely popular and has transformed the timbral landscape of modern handbell music and handbell performance.  

In addition to numerous articles published in state and national music journals, he has music published by Hope Publishing, From the Top Publishing, and GIA Publications. 

Greig Ashurst serves in various capacities for numerous organizations, including president-elect of the Handbell Musicians of America and public relations manager and webmaster for the Southwest Louisiana Band Directors’ Association.


Mr. Ashurst is married to Lauren Montgomery Ashurst of Lafayette, LA.  They have three children; Katherine (17), Luc (16), and Sam (15).




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)