of Livingston County, Michigan         

Joel Schut is in his third season as Music Director of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and is active as a conductor, educator, and violinist. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, he began his training on piano and violin, and quickly developed a passion for making music. He currently serves as Orchestra Director at Saline High School. Previous conducting engagements include a 2007 Spotlight Players production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel at the Village Theater in Canton and a guest appearance with the National Repertory Orchestra.

As a violinist, Joel is a member of the Flint Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Battle Creek and Adrian Symphonies and serves as a substitute player for the New World Symphony. This past summer he performed with the 2009 National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. Other summer engagements have included the 2008 American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria and the Aspen Music Festival and School (2004, 2005, 2007). In December 2007, Joel received a fellowship to participate in the New York String Orchestra Seminar performing two concerts in Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he served as concertmaster and counselor with the 2006 Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Youth Symphony Orchestra touring Austria, Germany and France. His primary teachers include Diane McElfish, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Naoko Tanaka, and Yehonatan Berick.

Along with an interest in performing, Joel is a passionate music educator. He has been Orchestra Director at Saline High School since 2009 and currently teaches the 9th Grade, Symphony, and Chamber Orchestras. In 2008 he was invited to teach at the Ashland University Spring String Wing Ding. Additionally, he has served as a violin mentor with the Detroit Civic Orchestra and coached chamber music with the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. He previously served on the faculty of the Starling Kids String Project as part of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Preparatory Department.

Joel Schut is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance where he was awarded the Albert A. Stanley Medal, the school’s highest honor. Additionally, he was awarded the 2007 University of Michigan Presser Scholarship as well as the 2007 National Federation of Music Clubs Hazel Morgan/Myrtle Mehan National Music Education Scholarship. In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, traveling and good food.