J.W. Pepper is proud to support a wide and diverse community of composers through the My Score platform—a resource for independent publishers that empowers individuals to share their original works with musicians and educators through the world’s largest sheet music network.
Each month, we highlight a composer whose work exemplifies the creativity and dedication found throughout the My Score community. This month, in addition to congratulating Ron Castonguay, Composer of the Month for August, we’re linking the public profiles of nine additional composers to showcase their musical backgrounds, compositional approaches, and recent works available through My Score!
Composer of the Month
Ron Castonguay
An innovative music educator and accomplished musician, composer, conductor, and performer, Ron Castonguay was named Director of Arts and Music Director at The Frederick Gunn School in 2019. Ron teaches all levels of vocal ensemble, string ensemble, and concert jazz band as well as AP Music Theory and provides private music instruction. He is responsible for the leadership and development of the school’s visual and performing arts programs and champions the growth and integration of the arts and community involvement through the new Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center.
As a result of these efforts, the school has developed collaborations and maintains partnerships with local arts organizations, including Pilobolus, Sherman Chamber Ensemble, the Litchfield Jazz Festival, and Litchfield Jazz Camp. Before he arrived at Gunn, Ron served for 23 years as department chair for the performing arts and music director for grades 9 through 12 at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida. There, he created and directed the school’s string ensemble and symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, jazz combo, and vocal ensemble. His ensembles have performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, the Strathmore Center for the Performing Arts, and other notable venues, and they have consistently earned top marks at district, state, and national music festivals.
Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition from the University of Miami (Florida). He is a professional saxophonist, experienced conductor, and published composer. He conducted the professional run of Into the Woods at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami in 2015 and performed an alto saxophone solo with the Miami Symphony on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.
His choral work Trust in the Mercy of Your God was debuted by the University of Miami Chorale under the direction of Jo-Michael Scheibe, and a concert of Castonguay’s compositions and arrangements was presented at the University of Miami’s Gusman Hall in 2009. He lives in Washington, Connecticut, with his wife, Melissa, and their two daughters. Be sure to check out his profile and website for more information about his compositions!
