Dr. John Carter is La Sierra University's Director of Orchestral Studies, where he conducts the University Orchestra and teaches courses in orchestration, piano proficiency, and university studies. John also conducts Loma Linda Academy’s Consort Strings and teaches private instruction in conducting, composition, and piano. A graduate of La Sierra University, John holds MM and DMA degrees from UCLA where he studied conducting with maestros Jon Robertson and Neal Stulberg.

Previously, John lived in Portland, Ore. where he conducted the Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Jewish Community Orchestra, the Portland Adventist String Orchestra, the Advent Trombone Choir, the Sunnyside Brass Ensemble, and annual musical premieres with Trueheart Productions. He also taught undergraduate courses in conducting and orchestration at Marylhurst University, and was Lewis and Clark College's interim orchestra conductor in 2008.

John has conducted at a number of summer conducting festivals and workshops, including the Conductors Institute at Bard, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, California Conducting Institute, Rose City International Conductor’s Workshop, and the Conductor’s Guild Training Workshop at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. In 2000 John attended the Aspen Music Festival and School on horn. As a pianist, John won first place in the Inland Empire Piano Festival in 1995. John is an active composer and arranger and has had several dozen works performed by a variety of ensembles. John is an active member of the Conductor’s Guild, the College Orchestra Director’s Association, and the College Music Society.

John and his wife Bonnie, an attorney and alumna of the University, live in Riverside with their three sons Rowan, Ashton, and Brandon.

Master of Music in Conducting, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

University Orchestra, Orchestral Conducting, Orchestration, Piano Proficiency

Aspen Music Festival

Conductors Institute at Bard

California Conducting Workshop

Cabrillo Festival of Music

Rose City Conducting Workshop

Los Angeles Philharmonic Corwin Masterclass Series

First Place, Inland Empire Piano Competition

American Symphony Orchestra League

International Brahms Society

College Music Society

La Sierra University Symphony Orchestra (MUPF 279, 379) John Carter, M.Mus., Conductor

Open to all qualified students by audition. The La Sierra Symphony Orchestra performs significant orchestral literature. Repertoire includes music for chamber orchestra and full orchestra. Prerequisite: Audition

MUCT 415 Orchestration  (4)

Timbre and technical characteristics of orchestral instruments. Practices and procedures of orchestration.

Prerequisite: MUCT 213

MUPF 105 Piano Proficiency  (1)

Course content is designed for music majors preparing for the piano proficiency examination. Limited to music majors only. Does not apply towards the music major.  Does not apply toward a major in music.