The Provost’s Office is excited to extend a warm welcome to Jackson Churchill, joining the Music department in Fall 2026!
What excites you most about joining Gustavus Adolphus College?
I am excited to join a liberal arts college that focuses on shaping well-rounded individuals. I find Gustavus to be a perfect intersection between high standards of excellence and compassionate instruction, and I love the way that philosophy is lived out each day on a community-oriented campus.
Briefly describe your professional interests.
In addition to classroom instruction, I am an active trombonist and composer. In May of 2025, I released a jazz album titled “On Your Mark,” and I will release a new one at the beginning of next year (stay tuned!). These original compositions reflect my experiences as an educator and performer living in Iowa, my home for eight years. I am excited to get acquainted with Minnesota’s music scene as an educator, performer, and composer this year!
What aspects of teaching do you find most rewarding?
To me, teaching is the ultimate act of service. I have had the great fortune of experiencing several “mountain-top” musical experiences, and I believe that it’s my responsibility to share the lessons and wisdom I’ve learned with the next generation of musicians. I love that, at Gustavus, our ensembles contain a wide range of disciplinary majors, demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can study music in a way that enriches their lives forever. That’s the biggest reward that I find from the teaching profession!
What are you looking forward to exploring or engaging with in the Saint Peter community outside of your academic work?
Outside of teaching and making music, I love to get outside. I look forward to running, biking, and skiing in the area, and taking in the natural beauty by the river and in the Arb!
If you could have any superpower (related to your field or otherwise), what would it be and why?
Flight! Can you imagine a trombone player serenading townsfolk through the sky?