Barbara Rhyneer - Department of Music

In addition to directing the NMU Orchestra, Dr. Barbara Rhyneer teaches string pedagogy, coaches string chamber ensembles, applied string lessons, conducting, and Music in Society. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Music from Bowling Green State University, and a Doctorate of Arts in orchestral conducting and violin performance from Ball State University.

Dr. Rhyneer enjoys being involved in a variety of performances and educational activities in the surrounding community. She is regularly the Associate Concertmaster of the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, and has been a guest first violinist with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Pine Mountain Music Festival Orchestra. As a violinist, she has performed with the Beverly Hills Symphony, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, the Marion Symphony Orchestra, and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.

She was also the conductor of the Eastern Central Indiana Youth Orchestra (1995-1997) and the Upper Peninsula Youth Orchestra (1999-2014). She is often the guest holiday pops conductor for the Marquette Symphony Orchestra. She is a frequent adjudicator for the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival. She also coaches ensembles in the U.P. Chamber Festival, and is member of the American String Teachers Association and the College Orchestra Director’s Association.

In her spare time, she enjoys performing non-classical music genres such as Celtic music, jazz, rock, and musicals. She played the role of “Rosie” in the Forest Roberts Theatre’s summer 2019 production of Mamma Mia (pictured here) and is currently a member of the American Irish folk ensemble The Knockabouts.