Trombonist Logan Vanderlaan is a dedicated music educator determined to pass down his passion for music to his students. His experience teaching a multitude of musical instruments and styles makes him a flexible and multifaceted teacher, and his teaching philosophy focuses on student-centered, empathetic instruction. He has served the band and choir director at Pine Bluffs Jr./Sr. High School for nearly two years and has created an engaging and supportive environment where students can cultivate their love for music. He has experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels.
 
His teaching experience is bolstered by his diverse performance background. Vanderlaan has led and managed his own jazz combo for many years, and has played professionally in many jazz ensembles such as the In the Blue Jazz Ensemble, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, and the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra. He has also premiered his big band compositions and arrangements with the Laramie County Community College Jazz Ensemble. As a recording artist, he can be heard on Derek Brown’s 2020 jazz album All Figured Out as well as the rock band Catfish and The Man’s 2019 self-titled album.
 
Vanderlaan earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. At IU, he was the lead trombonist in the top big band at Indiana University, the Brent Wallarab Jazz Ensemble. He has also played in the Latin Jazz Ensemble, the John Raymond Jazz Ensemble, and jazz combos led by Christian Dillingham, Sean Dobbins, Thomas Walsh, and Wayne Wallace. He completed a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Grand Valley State University in 2019, and is also a certified teacher in the state of Michigan and Wyoming.