JOSEPH GEHRING, Music Director
Mr. Joseph Gehring is an associate faculty member and director of ensembles at Immaculata University. Since 2004, Mr. Gehring has worked with the Immaculata Symphony and was appointed music director in 2011. His dynamic leadership has brought innovative programs to Immaculata, including interactive youth programs with a focus on music education for all ages. With an interest in promoting new music as well as cherishing the music of the past, his unique programs represent outstanding music that covers many different genres. In addition to conducting the Symphony Orchestra, he also conducts the University Concert Band and Chamber Ensemble and teaches Music Theory, Conducting, Brass Methods, Secondary Methods, Applied Lessons, Piano Laboratory, Music Technology, Composition, and Orchestration.
Currently Mr. Gehring is the music director and conductor of the West Chester Band, a position he has held since 2003. He has also been a part of the Chesco Pops Orchestra, a semi-professional ensemble, since its inception in 2005 and became music director and conductor in 2013. Previously, Mr. Gehring held the position of band director at the Renaissance Academy in Phoenixville, PA for 16 years where he directed the elementary, middle, and high school bands and taught general music to elementary and middle school students. These ensembles help to complete the full spectrum of musicians that he has the pleasure of working with, from every age and ability level.
Mr. Gehring is also a frequent guest conductor of various honor/festival bands and orchestras throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware, including the Southern Chester County Honors Band, Philadelphia Archdiocesan Honors String Orchestra, PMEA District 12 Elementary Honors Band Fest, Kent County Junior High Honors Band, the ASTA Junior High String Festival Orchestra, and the Berks County Senior High Festival Orchestra.
As a pianist, Mr. Gehring has been the director of music ministries at the Exton United Methodist Church since 2004 where he serves as organist/pianist, contemporary worship leader, and choir director. He was also the accompanist for the Brandywine Singers in West Chester, and has maintained a piano studio for beginning to advanced students of all ages for 15 years. Mr. Gehring completed his undergraduate degree in Music Education at West Chester University, studying both piano and tuba. He continued his postgraduate work at Boston University and returned to WCU to study conducting with Dr. Ovidiu Marinescu. He earned a Master of Music Performance degree in Orchestral Conducting.