EWU Music

09/03/2026

We’ve spent the past several posts introducing you to the newest members of the EWU Music faculty, and we’re so excited to officially welcome back our final addition to the team…

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓬𝓱𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓬𝓱 🪈- Instructor of Flute

Heather Schlaich is a flutist and music educator in Eastern Washington. Since earning her Master of Arts in Music (Flute Performance), she has maintained a successful private flute studio in the Spokane area for many years. While pursuing her graduate studies at EWU, Heather taught Music in the Humanities and Flute Techniques classes, and provided supplemental flute lessons to undergraduate students. She has also taught music instruction across K-12 levels and served as a school administrator for several years. She has performed regularly with the Spokane Area Children’s Choir, participated in the NW Bach Festival, and served as a Solo and Ensemble adjudicator locally and across Washington. Her primary teachers include Bruce Bodden, Dr. Tracy Doyle, and Sherrill Honeychurch.

Please join us in welcoming Prof. Schlaich to the EWU Music family! 🦅

With new voices, new perspectives, and new expertise joining our department, we’re looking forward to an exciting year of music, learning, collaboration, and community.

EWU Music has a place for YOU and we can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings! 🎶

09/03/2026

✨ Just one more introduction after this one ✨

EWU Music is excited to welcome back our very own...

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓱 🎵 - Instructor of Oboe and Woodwind Tech

Sharon Cattich is an oboe teacher and performer. She studied under Alex Klein and Bernie Shapiro in Seattle, WA, then James Caldwell at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, OH. Sharon is very active in the Spokane area as a teacher and performer and also works at Jones Double Reed Products. She is the oboe instructor at Spokane Falls Community College and has a thriving private studio. Sharon is the woodwind coach for Spokane Youth Symphony and also serves on their board of directors.

In her short time at EWU Music, Prof. Cattich has already made a mark on our program and we cannot wait to continue working with her! ❤️🎶

09/03/2026

We still have a few more talented musicians to introduce! Now, we shine the spotlight on...

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓙𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓪𝓷 𝓞𝓻𝓽𝓾ñ𝓸 𝓖𝓮𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮 🎶 - Instructor of Trombone and Tuba

Originally from Oak Harbor, Washington, Jordan Ortuño George is a professional tubist, bass trombonist, baritone/euphonium player, and Instructor of Low Brass at Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University, where he teaches tuba, euphonium, trombone, and bass trombone. He holds a Master of Arts in Music from Washington State University and a BM Performance degree from Central Washington University. Mr. George holds principal positions with the Eastern Washington Wind Symphony and Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island, and performs on Baritone with the Spokane British Brass Band, and regularly substitutes with regional symphonies. He is also Operations Manager for Sierra Music Publications. His honors include the MTNA Washington State Solo Contest, University President’s Honors from CWU and WSU, and selection for the Western International Band Clinic Collegiate Honor Ensemble. In 2026, he was a featured soloist with the Spokane British Brass Band.

We are excited to welcome Prof. Ortuño George to EWU Music! We can't wait to see the impact he will have on our student and community! ✨

09/03/2026

We are halfway through our introductions! Now, say hello to...

𝓓𝓻. 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓮𝓵 𝓚𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓮 🎷 - Instructor of Saxophone

Dr. Michael Keepe is Instructor of Saxophone at Eastern Washington University and teaches Band and Choir at Lakeland Senior High School in Rathdrum, Idaho. His prior teaching credentials include faculty appointments at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, The Festival at Sandpoint Summer Youth Music Camp, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He formed North Idaho Saxophone Academy to provide lessons, masterclasses, and workshops around the Inland Northwest and has taught in this capacity for more than 40 years. Mike received multiple degrees from the University of Arizona and is a Performing Artist and Clinician for Conn-Selmer Inc. For more information please visit www.mikekeepe.com

EWU Music is SO excited for our students and Community to get to know Dr. Keepe! 🙌🏽

09/02/2026

As our New Faculty spotlight continues, EWU Music would like to take a moment to officially introduce our very own...

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓜𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓒𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝔂 🎶- Director of Bands, Pride of the Inferno Marching Band and Code Red

Mike Cleary is Director of Bands at Eastern Washington University. He is currently in the ABD phase of his Doctor of Arts degree in Wind Band Conducting at the University of Northern Colorado. A native of Portland OR, Mr. Cleary holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Portland and a Masters in Music from Central Washington University. During his residency at UNC Mr. Cleary served as graduate conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band, Graduate teaching assistant with the Pride of the Rockies Marching Band, and led the Bear Pride Athletic Pep Band with 50 members. In addition to his studies, Mr. Cleary enjoys camping, exploring local cuisine, and enjoying time with his cat, Luna.

Please join us in giving Prof. Cleary a warm welcome back this Fall quarter! 🥳

09/02/2026

The introductions continue! Next up we have,

𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓯. 𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓷 𝓞𝓱𝓴𝓾𝓫𝓸 🎻- Director of Orchestra and Instructor of Cello

Alan Ohkubo serves as guest Principal Cello of the Spokane Symphony for the 2026–27 season and Visiting Assistant Lecturer in Music at Eastern Washington University. He was a Fellow at the New World Symphony, served as Principal Cello of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, and held section cello positions with the Louisville Orchestra and New Haven Symphony Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, he values lasting partnerships, including piano trios with Benjamin Hoffman and Irene Kim and work with the NouLou Chamber Players. He views chamber music, grounded in trust, flexibility, and shared purpose, as the foundation of ensemble playing and strives to help students discover and cultivate their enthusiasm for making music with others. Mr. Ohkubo holds a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from Yale School of Music and a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University. His principal teachers were Aldo Parisot and Janos Starker.

We are THRILLED to have Prof. Ohkubo join EWU Music and bring his experience, passion and artistry to our community! 🎼

Two intros down.. so many more to go!

09/02/2026

We’re kicking off a special series to introduce the newest members of the EWU Music faculty! First up, let's meet...

𝓓𝓻. 𝓖𝓮𝓸𝓯𝓯𝓻𝓮𝔂 𝓜𝓬𝓚𝓪𝔂 🎺 - Lecturer in Trumpet, Music History and Brass Area Coordinator

Dr. Geoffrey McKay holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in trumpet performance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Musicology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, a Post-Master's Artist Certificate from Georgia State University, a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music from Central Washington University, and an Associate of Arts from Columbia Basin College. From Spring 2024 to Spring 2026, Dr. McKay taught applied trumpet and directed the Trumpet Ensemble at the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music. They have also taught popular-music history, music appreciation, and world-music courses at Spokane Community College since January 2024. As a performer, they have appeared with the Spokane, Helena, Mid-Columbia, Wenatchee, and Yakima Symphony Orchestras, the Piedmont Wind Symphony, Orquesta Mayor (Salsa), and musical-theatre pits in Washington and North Carolina. Their scholarship unpacks the trumpet's cultural symbolism and appears in the inaugural issue of the International Trumpet Research Journal.

We are so excited to welcome Dr. McKay to the EWU Music family! ❤️🎶 Stay tuned are we continue to introduce our newest faculty...👀

07/28/2026

EWU Music is expanding our faculty! Check out the listing below!

Job Title: Lecturer - Music F99639 Location: Cheney FLSA Status: Exempt Anticipated Start Date: 9/16/2026 Work Schedule Type: Regular Work Schedule: Schedule will vary from quarter to quarter to fulfill the position’s responsibilities. Assignments may include evening classes or online classes. Ter...

07/20/2026

Our Kodály Level 1 TWO week intensive certificate training is right around the corner!

Are you a music educator? Want to earn 77 CLOCK HOURS? If so, this might be the right experience for you!

🎵 2-week in-person summer intensive (July 27 – August 7, 2026)
🎵Earn 77 clock hours of professional development
🎵Focus areas: Pedagogy, Musicianship, Conducting, Music literature, Choral ensemble
🎵Kodály Concept: student-centered, active learning through singing, movement, participation
🎵Real-world teaching demonstrations with Spokane Area Youth Choirs
🎵Fee: $900
🎵On EWU Cheney campus

Registration is OPEN! We would love to see you this summer. Register and Learn more at: pce.ewu.edu (Kodály)

05/20/2026

✨ VIP tickets for The Bright Lights of Broadway are officially SOLD OUT! ✨

EWU Music would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU for all the incredible support! General Admission tickets are STILL AVAILABLE online and will also be sold at the door before the concert. 🦅🎶🦊

Come celebrate an amazing year of music with us and support our talented performers. We can’t wait to see you there! ❤️🙌