May 14, 2026 As Jonah Elrod , assistant professor of music theory and composition, finishes up his first year at GRCC, he has nothing but praise for his students and colleagues. “The students are happy and positive,” professor Elrod said. “They love what they are doing, and that says a lot about GRCC. My colleagues are also great. No one is competing. Everyone has their lane and is supportive of the department as a whole.” That collegial and collaborative environment is one in which Elrod thrives both personally and professionally. “I started playing music in elementary school and never stopped,” professor Elrod said. “By the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to be a music major. I, too, attended community college at first so I could lower the cost and live at home. My initial music classes confirmed that I had made the right career choice. I was getting straight As for the first time in my life!” Elrod loved composing music, but couldn’t see how to make a living that way. He earned a music education degree because that was the most job-forward option he could find, and went on to teach. But that compositional itch persisted. “I really wanted to compose but I knew I needed more training,” professor Elrod said. “So I continued my education, earning a Master of Music in music theory and composition from the University of New Mexico, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in music composition from the University of Iowa.” After that, the job search led Elrod to GRCC. Community College Was an Intentional Choice Elrod says he was looking for a place where he could teach a variety of topics. “I love teaching music theory, composition lessons, music history and music technology,” professor Elrod said. “GRCC had all that in their job description. In addition, I really wanted to teach at a community college because of the influential role it played in my own musical career.” In addition to the perfect job description he found at GRCC, Elrod found the Michigan weather to be a bonus. Yes, really! “My music is very nature-based,” professor Elrod said. “As I was investigating the opportunity at GRCC, I realized that there’s a lot of inspiration here. The water, the trees, the snow…all of that is fodder for my compositional mill.”  Accolades and Accomplishments Professor Elrod is happy to be at GRCC and we are thrilled to have a musician of his caliber teaching our students. In the last year alone, two of his students — Kaleb Gomez Corder and Tyler Watkins — have won composition awards. He’s also staying busy with his own work. “I usually have a few projects in the works at any given time,” professor Elrod said. “I just finished arrangements of Revolutionary folk songs from the 1700s. This was a project commissioned by mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Bice at Valparaiso University. It was fun to present the songs in their original form, and then put my own interpretations on them while respecting traditional harmonic progressions.” Elrod was also the Black Bayou Composition Award winner in 2025. His piece, entitled “ In the Absence of Snow ,” illustrates Elrod’s curiosity about nature and his creative gifts. “I saw a paper predicting that if the global warming rate reached 2.5 degrees, there would be no snow,” professor Elrod said. “That inspired me to make art about it. I graphed temperatures over time and translated that data into music. The earth is literally in the piece.” That award led to a commission from New Music on the Bayou, the organization that sponsors the Black Bayou Composition Award. Professor Elrod will be working on that piece this summer. Elrod says that his collaborative approach to music is a bit unique. This earns him opportunities that others might not be open to tackling. “I worked with the dance troupe at Valparaiso University to compose a piece for them,” professor Elrod said. “Anyone who has worked with dancers knows they want to change things! Not many of my composer friends want to work that way, but I enjoyed it.” Elrod says that while collaborating is fun, he also loves to explore his own creative ideas. He has been accepted into the competitive ART14 Residency in Patton, PA this summer. For two weeks, Elrod will be living with other artists of all kinds who are there to create art. “This is an incredible opportunity for experimentation,” professor Elrod said. “There’s no specific deliverable. I have an idea about where I want to start, but I can literally do anything, either on my own or in collaboration with other artists. There’s nature inspiration galore in the Appalachians, so I’m excited about the opportunity!” Learn about the Music department and areas of study at GRCC. This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.