Julianne Vanden Wyngaard facts for kids
Julianne Vanden Wyngaard is a talented musician who plays two special instruments: the carillon and the piano. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was even the president of a big group called The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) from 2017 to 2019. Julianne is important because she has achieved great things in music, especially in a field that didn't have many women or people of color before.
Learning and Music Education
Julianne Vanden Wyngaard started her music journey by studying piano at the famous Eastman School of Music. She then earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She continued her studies at Michigan State University. In 2000, she got a diploma from the Netherlands Carillon School, which is a top place to learn about playing the carillon.
A Career in Music and Teaching
In 1965, Julianne Vanden Wyngaard became a teacher at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). She was a piano soloist and a professor there. Julianne was very important in starting the carillon program at GVSU. Today, GVSU has two of the fourteen carillon towers found in Michigan. When asked about her career, Julianne said, "My biggest accomplishment was bringing the carillon to the west Michigan community."
