Joan Van Dessel serves as an assistant professor of Music at Cornerstone University where she provides classroom and private lesson instruction as well as committee service and student mentoring and advising. Her expertise is in clarinet performance and music history. Van Dessel currently performs as a clarinetist with the West Michigan Symphony, Traverse City Symphony and as a substitute with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of work, Joan enjoys reading, coffee and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite quote is from John Cage, “The music I prefer, even to my own, is that which we hear when we are silent.”