Music Theory and History instructor Jon Grier holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College, an M.M. in Composition from Western Michigan University, and an M.M. in Theory and a D.M.A. in Composition from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Dick Goodwin and Sam Douglas. Jon has taught at the Fine Arts Center since 1988, and was voted Teacher of the Year for 1994-95. He composes frequently for student and faculty ensembles, usually when he should really be grading papers.

Past projects include In Pursuit, a concert overture composed for the Greenville County Youth Orchestra commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Fine Arts Center, premiered in May of 1995, and The Number of Things, a chamber work celebrating the 25th anniversary of the FAC and performed during graduation ceremonies in May of 1999. A CD recording of his three string quartets, performed by the Ceruti Quartet of the University of Memphis, has just been completed. Jon has also been a writer/keyboardist with the jazz-fusion ensembles Oracle and Edgewise since 1984. He lives in Greenville with wife Marian, sons Benjamin and Daniel, and lab-mix-mutt Sally Mae.

Compositions by Jon Grier: