Office: Music and Art Center 1554
Phone: 509-682-6757
Email: jiwaasa@wvc.edu
Website: http://commons.wvc.edu/jiwaasa/default.aspx

Education:
B.M., M.M., Music Composition, Brigham Young University

The opportunity to participate in building a college music program that complements the many musicians and ensembles in North Central Washington is among the many reasons Juel Iwaasa accepted the music faculty position at WVC in 2004.

The area's high quality of life; the diverse strata of cultures, arts and music; the enthusiasm for the arts that members of the community expressed; and the quality of the staff and faculty he met during the interview process added to the appeal, and, he said, "I love apples!"

Iwaasa was an assistant professor of music at Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) in Sterling , Illinois . Originally from Vancouver , British Columbia , he received a music diploma in trumpet and composition from Vancouver Community College , and bachelor's and master's degrees in music composition from Brigham Young University (BYU).

"I am hoping to work with musicians of all types," he said. "While I have loved working with some terrific college musicians, I have also enjoyed making music with elementary school students, special needs students, people at church, non-music faculty colleagues, dancers and public school teachers."

Iwaasa specializes in composition and trumpet. He has played bass guitar and trumpet with the SVCC Chamber Ensemble, trumpet and baritone with the Sterling Municipal Band, French horn with the SVCC Symphonic Band, cornet with the BYU Wind Symphony, and trumpet with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Community College Jazz Combo, Autumn Brass Quintet and New Westminster College Jazz Band.

He has conducted the SVCC Chamber Ensemble and the Sauk Valley Chamber Strings, and completed some work in film.

"I have enjoyed writing music for all sorts of people, too," he said. "I'm hoping to get my feet wet in as many ways and places as time will allow. I would also like to expand on my recording experience and training."

Iwaasa said he and his family-wife, Tanya, and children, Jaden, Jenaesha, Teigen, Temeren and Taran-intend to "put down roots" and stay in Wenatchee for a "very long time."

With students in the music theory course, Juel produced WVC's first ever CD, The Juse Music Project. The CD was recorded, mixed and mastered in Sorom Studios in the Music and Art Center. It includes eight original tunes written and arranged by WVC students and faculty.