Immanuel Church

Dr. W. Jonathan Gresham retired from the Northern Kentucky University music faculty as Professor Emeritus in 2009 after 39 years in the music field, with 32 years of university teaching and including 26 years at NKU. He earned the B.A. in Music Education at Maryville College in Tennessee, the M.Mus. in Trumpet Performance at the University of Tennessee, and the D.M.A. in Wind Conducting at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Gresham’s background includes an additional three years of graduate study in music history and trumpet at Northwestern University.

His training has included trumpet study with John A. Roberts (Music Educator), Jerold Gerbrecht (Vancouver Symphony), Albert Ligotti (New York Philharmonic), Vincent Cichowicz (Chicago Symphony), Eugene Blee (Cincinnati Symphony) and Edward Tarr (Schola Cantorum Basiliensis). Besides NKU, Dr. Gresham has served on the music faculties of Hanover College and Maryville College, and held Graduate Assistantships at the University of Tennessee and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He served as a member of and soloist with the Air Force Reserve Command Band, has performed with the Knoxville Symphony, and as principal trumpet of the Columbus (Indiana), Charlottesville, and Kentucky Symphonies. In addition to his position as Professor of Trumpet at NKU, Dr. Gresham served as founder and conductor of the Brass Choir, and was principal trumpet and administrator of the Faculty Brass Quintet. He served as principal trumpet of the Northern Kentucky Community Chorus Orchestra for 28 years. Dr. Gresham was honored as Kentucky Music Educator’s Association College/University Teacher of the Year for 2000-2001, and received the KMEA District 6 Citation of Service award for 2003-2004.

In retirement, Dr. Gresham continues trumpet performance activities with the Northwind Brass Quintet, the Northern Kentucky Community Chorus Orchestra, and as a soloist. His publications for brass include Plainchant for Trumpet, Plainchant for Trombone, Renaissance Duets for Two Trumpets, and Renaissance Trios for Three Trumpets (all published by Balquhidder Music). Dr. Gresham enjoys teaching trumpet students of all ages. He lives with his wife Linda in Clermont County, Ohio, and likes to entertain his four grandchildren.