Joel Vanderheyden

Joel Vanderheyden is a Professor of Music and Director of Jazz at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri, and concurrently serves as a Teacher of Applied Music (Saxophone) at Washington University in St. Louis. He holds a D.M.A. in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa, a M.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of Maryland, and a B.A. in Music Education and Performance from the University of Minnesota-Morris.

His research and professional interests focus on music pedagogy, jazz performance, and ensemble collaboration, particularly in electro-jazz contexts. He performs with groups like the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz St. Louis Big Band, as well as the ensembles Koplant No and Vehachi.

Prior roles include Director of Jazz and Woodwinds at Oakton Community College and Director of Jazz at the University of Minnesota-Morris. He endorses D'Addario reeds and Selmer saxophones.