Laurel Grinnell-Wilson
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lecturer
Director of SDSU Javanese Gamelan Ensemble
SDSU
Bio
Laurel Grinnell-Wilson is the Director of San Diego State’s Javanese Gamelan Ensemble and teaches M345 (World Music in Contemporary Life). She graduated from SDSU with an MA in Ethnomusicology and an emphasis on Javanese gamelan, studying under the notable Pak Djoko Walujo Wimboprasetyo. She has conducted musical field studies in Java, Bali, and Ghana and in addition to gamelan music, has studied Zimbabwean mbira and marimba, West African drumming styles, and kora of Senegal. She has performed locally in a number of groups that perform music from around the world, including Sene Africa, Dornob, Zimbeat, Kembang Sunda, the Javanese Gamelan of the Indonesian Consulate in LA, and more.
Laurel received her BA in Jazz Performance Studies from Sonoma State University and graduated with distinction on drum set. She continues to perform locally on drums as a jazz freelance musician, in musical theater productions (San Diego Musical Theatre), as a special guest with the San Diego Women’s Choir, as well as various other contexts. She has performed with artists such as Allison Adams Tucker, Lori Bell, Steph Johnson, Monette Marino, and more!