Rod Vester
Rod Vester is an educator, researcher, entrepreneur, pianist, organist, composer,
conductor and producer who excels in gospel, jazz, classical and contemporary music.
He has performed with numerous artists, across genres, including Grammy Award winners
CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin and the late Aretha Franklin. As an arts consultant, Dr.
Vester has helped expand the educational and artistic programming for many organizations
and remains an active performer, clinician and speaker who has presented at Chamber
Music America, Sphinx and at state and national music education conferences.
Vester is committed to creating spaces where all students feel valued, voiced and visible. He is Director and Assistant Professor of Contemporary Music and creator of the Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (CMED) undergraduate program at Shenandoah Conservatory. Dr. Vester holds a B.A. in Psychology, M.A. in Counseling, M.Mus. in Musicology, and Ph.D. in Music Education.