Gerhard has directed numerous instrumental and vocal ensembles and is an experienced educator, having taught nearly forty different college and university-level music courses. As Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Music Business at Elmhurst College, Gerhard designed and maintained the Interactive Media Lab, co-authored Elmhurst’s minor in music production and created the Pitch Perfect first-year seminar. He was Director of Bands at Novato High School, and directed the California State University Long Beach Studio Jazz Band for three years. From 2019-2020, Gerhard served as Interim Director of Jazz and Contemporary Performance at Utah Valley University, where he directed the UVU Jazz Orchestra, Rhapsody a cappella group, and the traditional jazz ensemble, producing the Ice Breaker Jazz Festival, monthly concerts, and teaching courses and private lessons in jazz arranging, contemporary music theory, and music production. Gerhard holds a Bachelor of Music in music education from the University of Miami, a Master of Music in jazz studies from California State University Long Beach, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the University of Arizona.
