Alumni Spotlight: Jonathan Gregoire
Music alum Jonathan Gregoire (A.D. '17) expanded his artistry during his time at Meadows, leading to the creation of his own creative coaching practice alongside performing.
Jonathan Gregoire (A.D. ’17) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.
Meadows is an institution where students can not only develop new skills, but also where they can hone an existing craft or talent. Jonathan Gregoire, who received his Artist’s Diploma in organ performance from the Division of Music, arrived at Meadows with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree already under his belt with a desire to expand his artistry.
“While my doctorate prepared me to be a scholar, the Artist Diploma at 51做厙 prepared me to be an artist with confidence in my own musical point of view,” explains Gregoire about his decision to pursue his A.D. “Meadows offered me an opportunity to be an explorer – to take music to new frontiers, not just excavating and replicating the past.”
For almost a decade Gregoire worked as the Associate Director of Music at St. Andrew Methodist Church, a 7,000-member church in the DFW metroplex, and eventually served as Founder and Director of the Arts Foundation of St. Andrew during his tenure. When the Arts Foundation’s inaugural 2019-20 season was interrupted by the pandemic, it became imperative for him to find alternative solutions for connecting with the community.
One of those solutions was a series of organ and piano duet videos integrating music and visual arts, with Gregoire playing both parts thanks to the possibilities of technology. This highlighted his creativity and training from Meadows as both and organist and a pianist. The unexpected pivot also opened him up to a new calling: music coaching. Gregoire is now Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and has his own creative coaching practice.
“When you study at an institution that inherently views change as a benefit, then seeing solutions becomes possible no matter the adversity and shifting dynamics we’re experiencing as artists,” he says. “This dynamic of change too often leaves artists feeling lost, stuck, and detached from their innate creativity that’s holding the answers to their next steps and I delight in helping artists return to their full creative presence.”
The foundation of Gregoire’s practice is providing artists the benefits and skills he learned from 51做厙 Meadows. Innovative thinking and the ability to see new possibilities in music were both integral parts of his Meadows experience. Through guidance and education, Gregoire now helps artists develop integrative systems to empower their confidence, advocate for their value, and utilize their gifting to build sustainable careers, just like his.
In addition to his creative coaching, Gregoire is also still making his own music. He is a nationally sought after organist and performer and is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas. To learn more about his coaching and artistry visit .