Dr. Jeffrey Tedford, Biography
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Dr. Jeffrey Tedford is the Chair of the Department of Music at Grove City College where he also serves as the Director of Orchestral Activities. He conducts the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, teaches String Methods and Conducting courses, coaches chamber ensembles, and works with student teachers. His orchestras have performed at state and national conferences and have recorded multiple albums which are available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services. In 2023, the GCC Symphony Orchestra was awarded 3rd place in The American Prize for Orchestral Performance.
In addition to his work at Grove City College, Dr. Tedford is the Past-President of the Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association (PADESTA) and was the organization’s Orchestra Director of the Year in 2017. He also received the organization's Distinguished Service Award (Individual) in 2024. He has served as the Orchestra Content Representative and Collegiate Orchestra Representative for PADESTA, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
From 2003-2011 Tedford was a member of the award-winning music faculty in the Williamsport Area School District which won the NAMM foundation’s award seven out of eight years for Top Communities for Music Education. Tedford was the Director of Orchestras at Williamsport Area High School where he conducted three string orchestras and the Millionaire Strolling Strings and received the 2010-2011 WAHS Teacher of the Year Award. From 2009-2011 Tedford was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Williamsport Chamber Choir and Orchestra, a semi-professional ensemble. He also maintains an active performing schedule as a violinist with the Grove City String Quartet, Butler County Symphony Orchestra, and from 2004-2011 as a member of the first violin section of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.
Tedford received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Grove City College and his Master’s degree in conducting from Carnegie Mellon University where he was the Assistant Conductor for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh under the direction of world renowned conductor, Robert Page. He completed his Doctoral degree in Music Education at Shenandoah University. His dissertation is titled “College Instrumental Ensemble Participation Rates: A Study of Participants and Non-Participants at a Liberal Arts College” and explores the reasons college freshmen continue or discontinue playing in bands or orchestras in college. In addition to formal degree programs, he has pursued additional conducting studies at the Eastman School of Music and the Keenefest Choral Conducting summer festival.
Dr. Tedford was elected to the School Board of the Grove City Area School District and is serving a four-year term from 2022-2026. In this role, he serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Personnel, and Educational Services Committees. Dr. Tedford resides in Grove City, PA with his wife, Dr. Sasha Piastro-Tedford, a Soprano who also teaches voice, musical theater, other courses at Grove City College and is a chorister with Pittsburgh Opera. They have three amazing and musical children and a dog named Ziggy.
In addition to his work at Grove City College, Dr. Tedford is the Past-President of the Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association (PADESTA) and was the organization’s Orchestra Director of the Year in 2017. He also received the organization's Distinguished Service Award (Individual) in 2024. He has served as the Orchestra Content Representative and Collegiate Orchestra Representative for PADESTA, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
From 2003-2011 Tedford was a member of the award-winning music faculty in the Williamsport Area School District which won the NAMM foundation’s award seven out of eight years for Top Communities for Music Education. Tedford was the Director of Orchestras at Williamsport Area High School where he conducted three string orchestras and the Millionaire Strolling Strings and received the 2010-2011 WAHS Teacher of the Year Award. From 2009-2011 Tedford was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Williamsport Chamber Choir and Orchestra, a semi-professional ensemble. He also maintains an active performing schedule as a violinist with the Grove City String Quartet, Butler County Symphony Orchestra, and from 2004-2011 as a member of the first violin section of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.
Tedford received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Grove City College and his Master’s degree in conducting from Carnegie Mellon University where he was the Assistant Conductor for the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh under the direction of world renowned conductor, Robert Page. He completed his Doctoral degree in Music Education at Shenandoah University. His dissertation is titled “College Instrumental Ensemble Participation Rates: A Study of Participants and Non-Participants at a Liberal Arts College” and explores the reasons college freshmen continue or discontinue playing in bands or orchestras in college. In addition to formal degree programs, he has pursued additional conducting studies at the Eastman School of Music and the Keenefest Choral Conducting summer festival.
Dr. Tedford was elected to the School Board of the Grove City Area School District and is serving a four-year term from 2022-2026. In this role, he serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Personnel, and Educational Services Committees. Dr. Tedford resides in Grove City, PA with his wife, Dr. Sasha Piastro-Tedford, a Soprano who also teaches voice, musical theater, other courses at Grove City College and is a chorister with Pittsburgh Opera. They have three amazing and musical children and a dog named Ziggy.
