Justeson Receives 2026 Wiesenberger Award for Excellence in Teaching

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Dr. Jeremy Justeson, department chair of Music, received Kutztown University's 2026 Arthur and Isabel Wiesenberger Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is presented annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated superlative teaching skills and service to the university.

Justeson has served at Kutztown University for 25 years, beginning in 2001, in a broad range of teaching and leadership roles. He was originally appointed as both saxophone and clarinet instructor, served as director of the KU Marching Unit and taught multiple sections of Introduction to Music for non-majors. He later became Director of Bands, conducting the University Wind Ensemble and additional ensembles.

Justeson served as the primary instrumental music education instructor during formative years of the music education program. Throughout his tenure, he has developed numerous new courses and led the creation of three undergraduate degrees, one graduate degree in music and four music minors that directly supported program growth. He has served two extended terms as chair of the Department of Music.

A proponent of new music, Justeson has premiered numerous pieces and worked with many of the day's leading composers. Justeson's two CDs, Juggernaut and Pimpin', feature the music of American composers. Justeson's primary saxophone teachers have included James Rötter, Harvey Pittel and Dr. Frederick L. Hemke. Justeson is a Selmer Performing Artist and Clinician.

Justeson held a prior appointment at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and taught in award-winning instrumental music programs for several years in the Texas public school system. Active regionally, nationally and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, clinician and conductor, Justeson has appeared in venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Dallas' Meyerson Center, San Antonio Symphony Hall, Allentown Symphony Hall and San Diego's Copley Symphony Hall to name a few.

A native of San Diego, Justeson earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin; a Master of Music from Northwestern University; and a Bachelor of Music from California State University, Fullerton.