Each year, Prof. Grandis takes upwards of 80-100 students under his baton. These students submit reviews on his professorship each year, and many are particularly revealing about his character and personality. It is Prof. Grandis’s wish to list release this list of student testimonials, found below.
Spotlight
The spotlight curates the most insightful comments from over a decade of his tenure.
“Professor Grandis is a patient, knowledgeable conductor who is clearly loved by his students. He organizes the practice times well so there is no wasted time. William and Mary is lucky to have him as a professor.” (2014)
“Speaking as a graduating senior who has played in orchestra all four years, the WMSO is truly one of the most excellent organizations on campus and Dr. Grandis, especially, is an outstanding conductor and mentor to whom the College is extremely lucky to have access.” (2017)
“Prof Grandis is a skilled conductor, knowledgeable, and able to convey his knowledge to students. It also felt like he genuinely cared about us and wanted to talk to us and engage us. ” (2020)
“Professor Grandis is an engaging and talented conductor. He does a great job leading students and making rehearsal time effective. He can be very strict, but it does not reflect in grades. The attendance–based grading policy is a great incentive for attending rehearsals and concerts. The community fostered in orchestra under Professor Grandis is caring and supportive, improving with every rehearsal.” (2023)
All reviews
All reviews, in their authentic form, are below.
2025
As I write every year, being a part of the Symphony Orchestra with Professor Grandis is such a joy and delight for me. I never have any complaints or criticisms to give. Professor Grandis provides such an incredible sense of direction and care for his students. He guides us on our musical journey with such love and dedication. Through his instruction and my peers every rehearsal I am constantly reminded of how grateful I am to be a part of this orchestra. I have nothing but kind words to say about Grandis and his teaching. I recommend this symphony for anyone wanting to express their musical passion alongside such a beautiful group of musicians 🙂 Thank you!
Professor Grandis picks excellent program material. He is good at making the ensemble musical beyond notes and rhythms.
Orchestra is always a highlight of my week. I love the repertoire, I love the community, and I love the ability to sit down and focus on nothing but music for two hours straight. This orchestra is an incredible group of players, especially for a group of non–music majors and non–conservatory students. I think a lot of that is thanks to Professor Grandis. I love that the orchestra regularly has a chance to perform student works and show off student musicians who don’t normally get a chance to be accompanied by a full orchestra (the Winter Concert repertoire is always a fun experience). I love that the repertoire is nice and varied, usually offering a chance to play contemporary and popular scores, a chance to play the common orchestral canon, and a chance to play works by composers I had never heard of. Professor Grandis is an absolutely incredible conductor, being extremely efficient with rehearsal time and extremely clear with direction. I rarely feel as though rehearsal time is being wasted. He is someone who is extremely passionate about music and is also extremely passionate about sharing that music with others, which I think is the most important skill for a conductor to have.
He is funny and rehearsals are informative, productive, and enjoyable. I love his conducting, he is excellent. I am glad I joined the orchestra.
I wanted to use this text box as an opportunity to say a few things about the instructor. Having taken his class for almost all of my undergraduate career, the instructor and his class will be one of the most positive, lasting memories of my time at William and Mary. Though it is obvious that he’s one of my favorite professors at this college, there are very good and valid reasons for this. I need not to waste space and energy about how effectively he teaches his class, or how his class is great. Instead, I want to talk about him as a person. He is someone who I look up to as a human being. On top of his usual joviality on campus, he is someone that is genuine and takes students’ concerns with sincerity and seriousness. It’s not easy to wrangle a large class, but he does this well with professionalism and grace. Though I don’t want to reveal details, I have learned a lot from him about what it means to be a better human. The only thing I would ever change about the class is having Grandis encourage the rest of the students to help clean and stack the chairs and stands. It might as well be a crime to not give him a substantial pay raise and/or bonus.
I have a lot of fun in WMSO, and Prof. Grandis is understanding and clearly very passionate about what he does. He facilitates a community rather than a competitive atmosphere for the orchestra, and I really appreciate it.
Professor Grandis is very supportive of his students’ success and encourages an educational environment that feels safe to explore musical passion.
Orchestra is fun, and Professor Grandis is an engaging conductor who consistently works to improve the ensemble’s playing.
This man is amazing at what he does.
Caring and engaging professor who appreciates the passion of his students!
Professor Grandis is very efficient with rehearsal and always makes it fun. I really enjoy the repertoire that he chooses for each concert cycle.
Professor Grandis is awesome; he’s a great conductor and encourages a very positive environment. He is great at connecting with students.
Grandis is amazing and orchestra is one of my favorite activities at William and Mary.
I love Grandis! Funny guy and I have definitely improved in my skills in violin and learned a lot about playing in a large symphonic ensemble.
Professor Grandis always brought a youthful energy to orchestra rehearsals, even when I felt really tired or had a long day. The music was always super engaging and interesting (especially for the spring semester), so I thought he chose repertoire very well.
Prof Grandis is a great professor!!
We get to play great repertoire and the conductor is amazing. He really likes connecting with students and encourages us to play at our best.
Grandis is great!
2024
Professor Grandis is an amazing conductor. This semester, we have played some really hard pieces, but I think he has made them sound as good as they possibly could have. Thank you for this year.
I love being in Professor Grandis’ orchestra. He creates a great environment to rehearse and perform in and somehow balances a high-quality result with a low-pressure rehearsal space.
Grandis is a fantastic conductor. I love the community cultivated by students within the symphony.
I had a really great time in this course. Professor Grandis cares a lot about the music and his passion makes each rehearsal extremely gratifying to attend. I have found that he treats each student with respect and has clear expectations for us that are frequently communicated.
Rehearsal is fun, and the pieces are always great –– extremely worthwhile class.
Love Professor Grandis, really entertaining and no pressure to work with. Hope there will be tours soon, especially to Europe, and even the UK, so I can watch and support WMSO.
Professor Grandis is very knowledgeable and is a very good conductor. I’ve taken this class every semester since I came to W&M and it’s nice having the same professor each time. He definitely enjoys getting to know his students.
The music selection was great, and the orchestra progressed well throughout the semester and year. Grandis is dedicated to producing high quality music and it pushed me to be better.
The repertoire this year was amazing! I hope to continue playing the high effort staples I always hear but never had the chance to play.
Makes orchestra rehearsal fun and engaging. The pieces we also get to play are fun and make me enjoy orchestra.
I enjoyed the challenge of our repertoire this semester! I think we perhaps could have started on the 9th sooner, but I still really enjoyed the collaboration with the choir.
I love orchestra! Rehearsals always feel productive, but they are also enjoyable. I really appreciate that Dr. Grandis asks for and considers the opinions of the ensemble when it comes to choosing repertoire.
This is only my second semester being a part of the symphony orchestra here on campus, and I can say that I am so glad I continued! Professor David Grandis is such an incredible instructor and conductor. His love and passion for music is always present both within and outside of our class sessions. He offers generous and constructive criticism, which always has the intention of making us better as an ensemble, and I can tell that everyone appreciates his feedback and direction. Grandis always has such a fun and energized spirit. His bright and humorous personality brings so much excitement to our rehearsals. Grandis is so knowledgeable of music composition, conducting, etc. that he approaches every practice session with such professionalism. His expertise always impresses me, and it continues to leave me in awe of his work every week. I have no criticism as this is easily my favorite class of the semester! I recommend anyone who is interested in music to take a class from Grandis. I will always appreciate having Grandis as my symphony orchestra instructor, and I could not speak more highly of him both as a professor and as an individual.
Professor Grandis is the best conductor I have ever had the pleasure of working with! I fully enjoyed orchestra this semester and look forward to participating again next semester.
I love orchestra with Professor Grandis. He makes it a fun and engaging escape from the usual academic slog.
WMSO NEVER STOP!!!
Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor and manages to hold together the orchestra effectively no matter the situation. His knowledge of every instrument’s musical content makes rehearsal flow very smoothly even for some of the very difficult works we play.
Dr. Grandis keeps orchestra fun and engaging.
Dr. Grandis is very engaged with the class and our music, and he’s a great conductor.
He is a great teacher, and I am really enjoying his class.
I like Grandis’ conducting style and teaching method.
Prof. Grandis creates a friendly orchestra atmosphere; WMSO has never felt overly competitive or intimidating to me, only inviting and fun.
Professor Grandis is very supportive of his students and makes rehearsal feel like a welcoming environment in which one can learn/practice.
I love Professor Grandis! He is very kind and has a funny personality. Rehearsals are very fun with him and also, we learn a lot as a symphony.
Professor Grandis is very passionate about music, and a very funny and good conductor. I always enjoy coming to rehearsals and working with Professor Grandis. The expectations of the course are clear, and the program is very organized with the help of the student executive members.
I absolutely love this instructor and course!
I love orchestra so much. Grandis is a brilliant conductor and also a very funny man. I’m so grateful to get to play such incredible music in this ensemble and enjoy his occasional French Phrases of the Day.
When scheduling the program for the Spring semester, a poll was sent out with multiple pieces we could play in the concerts. I appreciate how Professor Grandis takes students’ opinions into consideration as part of the ensemble experience. Furthermore, he is usually pretty clear with what he wants out of us musically as a conductor. I think the level of music, as a violinist, is good. It is not too difficult but often adds enough challenge and variety that it does not get boring.
Dr. Grandis is a really fantastic conductor and picks super interesting pieces for us to play. He is efficient while still leaving space for silliness, which I appreciate. His orchestra feels like a determined and capable group.
I have been in orchestra for 2 years now, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. Prof. Grandis is passionate about music, and it shows. He is kind and has a fun personality. I am also part of the exec board, and he is absolutely hilarious. I am very much looking forward to next semester!
Dr. Grandis is a fantastic conductor and teacher. I really appreciate how he encourages student input and takes into account what they want to perform.
Playing music is one of the things that to do. It goes beyond a hobby; it is an irreplaceable part of my life. This orchestra is one of the best ensembles I have ever had the pleasure of playing in. Our professor/conductor really knows how to lead an orchestra, both through conducting and managing rehearsals and also through personality. He is very kind and often funny but is also disciplined and efficient. He is generally light–hearted but knows when to be serious. I cannot thank the conductor and ensemble enough for the years of joy they have brought me. Here’s to one more glorious semester.
Very friendly, personable, straightforward, easy to understand, and focused.
As always, being a part of the symphony orchestra with Grandis is never a disappointment. This is my second year being a violist in the orchestra, and there is never a moment when I’m not enjoying my time there. I’ve made so many great relationships with other members and being tour director this year has definitely contributed to this. Being involved with the exec board has been a blast as it allowed me to see how much love and effort is put into this symphony. It has also allowed me to feel a little closer with Professor Grandis, and he is undoubtedly the best conductor I’ve ever had. He presents a great balance of being both professional and comical during rehearsals. While practicing difficult music can be daunting at times, he makes sure to always relieve any tension in the room by prioritizing a lighthearted atmosphere in rehearsals. Concerts and rehearsals are the highlights of my time here at William and Mary, and I have the utmost appreciation for Grandis and the symphony 🙂
Professor Grandis is great! He really unites the orchestra and cares about his students, even if he makes fun of them first.
Professor Grandis is really good at selecting programs and leading rehearsals. His conducting skills facilitate a musicality that is impressive for an ensemble composed of mostly non–music majors.
Professor Grandis is kind, funny, and makes an effort to form a comfortable and collaborative relationship with his students.
Professor Grandis cares a lot about conducting and his students. The pieces we’ve played this semester have been quite a bit of fun!
Professor Grandis is a fantastic conductor and clearly passionate about his work. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the orchestra under his supervision, from learning silly little French phrases to mastering challenging new repertoire to engaging in an uplifting/dedicated community. Can being French be considered a strength? Because his French–ness and zesty disposition has honestly made this course that much more enjoyable. Please tell Grandis to teach us even MORE silly little French phrases. Would HIGHLY recommend this course!! yay WMSO!!!
WMSO has been one of the highlights of my semester. Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor and always challenges the orchestra to improve. The repertoire is fun, and rehearsals are very engaging.
Professor Grandis is incredibly engaging and sincerely cares about the students and our work. I appreciate the high standard he holds us to which allows us to play at a very high level. He also encourages collaboration and group bonding which really adds to our collective experience. He’s my favorite professor I have this semester.
Rehearsals are run effectively and efficiently. Concert repertoire is challenging, but achievable with practice.
I absolutely love this course! It’s one of my favorite parts of the week!
2023
It is very pleasant to play as part of a larger orchestra, and Dr. Grandis’s conducting and leading skills are great as always. I really liked the repertoire we chose this year, especially the Lalo.
Dr. Grandis is a fine conductor and is able to get the orchestra to sound good by the time of the concert.
Professor Grandis is an engaging and talented conductor. He does a great job leading students and making rehearsal time effective. He can be very strict, but it does not reflect in grades. The attendance–based grading policy is a great incentive for attending rehearsals and concerts. The community fostered in orchestra under Professor Grandis is caring and supportive, improving with every rehearsal.
Professor Grandis is awesome!
Prof. Grandis cares about WMSO, which is evident. His rehearsal schedules and clear guidelines are very helpful. He gives specific comments and ways to improve certain sections. I like how he focuses on musicality instead of simply notes and rhythms.
Prof. Grandis is excellent, and I will really miss being in the orchestra with him.
Professor Grandis is a fantastic director and conductor. Very knowledgeable and very skilled.
Experienced and organized in leading an ensemble.
I’m enjoying orchestra a lot!
I enjoy playing very much, it is cool that I get to earn a credit while also satiating my desire to play music.
I love orchestra, it is very fun and a great way to continue playing music even though I am not a music major/minor.
Really love this year’s repertoire! Thank you, Professor Grandis.
Dr. Grandis is an excellent conductor/orchestra director (despite making some offensive comments), and I have had a wonderful experience in WMSO.
( WMSO ||: Never Stop :||)
Grandis is an amazing instructor, and he is very clear and quick to the point on everything he says so rehearsal can go along smoothly.
As always, Grandis was great, and I had an enjoyable semester in orchestra.
Professor Grandis is a wonderful conductor to play under. He somehow makes the worry of making mistakes go away, and rehearsals are really enjoyable.
The orchestra is a fun, relaxed group. There are a few people who are serious about music, but a majority of students just continuing a hobby from high school, so the level of the orchestra is not very high. The director is funny, and I enjoyed the pieces selected for the fall semester.
I look forward to every rehearsal and have grown as a musician.
Grandis is just an excellent conductor and a funny guy.
This class is fun! Professor Grandis picks excellent music for the ensemble and has high expectations that result in a polished performance for concerts. Rehearsal environment is comfortable and often humorous.
Prof Grandis programs an interesting variety of repertoire, is a good conductor, and is quite humorous!
The repertoire this year has been the best it’s ever been. I love The Nutcracker, I love Star Wars, and getting to premiere D’Ollone’s works was an incredible experience.
I absolutely love Mr. Grandis! He is very knowledgeable and experienced with conducting and orchestral music/instruments. I’m always very impressed with how professional he is, and I feel grateful to be a part of his chamber orchestra. I have no weaknesses to say about him. While the music is quite difficult, it is definitely doable and worth learning. The class is very organized and clear about instructions and expectations. Great music class!
Professor Grandis is a great conductor. He’s really enthusiastic about the music that we play and creates a friendly environment through both professionalism and humor. Thanks for a great semester!
This class is very good; the repertoire we played was engaging and the right amount of difficulty.
I have never been in a symphony before, and I must admit this was the most fun experience I have ever had. Grandis is very talented and can pick up on acute details in intonation and dynamics, even when you’re hidden behind a wall of brass. I found it a bit challenging at first trying to live up to the expectations of the symphony, and I was very stressed because everyone seemed so good (they still are). I have found a lot of improvement, and Grandis always offers opportunities to get better, which I found very helpful. Thank you, Grandis!
2022
The class is always a highlight of my week.
Dr. Grandis is very passionate about the orchestral material, making for a very impactful experience. The class is both extremely informative and relaxed so the students can enjoy learning about the repertoire and playing their instruments.
He made orchestra a very fun environment with humor.
(I’m a freshman) I came into this year a little intimidated by the idea of college–level orchestra and am now ending the year with a great experience, improved musical ability, new friends who I can tell are genuinely good people, and a much greater appreciation for classical music overall. Not to mention my new French vocabulary!
This class is very fun, great environment and Dr. Grandis is an incredible conductor.
I like the pieces that we play in the orchestra, as I think they are interesting and musically challenging.
Dr. Grandis is extremely knowledgeable in all that he speaks about and manages the class well.
Professor Grandis is seasoned and very knowledgeable. He has fun in class, but he makes sure that students know to take it seriously and put in work. He’s a perfect conductor.
Orchestra is one of my favorite classes and is where I’ve found almost all of my close friends. I have a sense of community here. I will continue taking this class for the rest of my time at W&M.
Dr. Grandis is clearly very knowledgeable and spends rehearsal time efficiently.
Professor Grandis is an excellent instructor, and I really enjoy being in the Symphony Orchestra.
Professor Grandis is a personable and professional conductor. We interact in the manner a professional orchestra would, and he ensures we spend our rehearsal time well and are prepared for our concerts. I have been in orchestra for 2 1/2 years, and intend on continuing through graduation, largely due to the positive community that Professor Grandis has helped to create.
I always enjoy WMSO rehearsals as both a social and musical outlet. I really enjoyed the use of sectionals this semester, as I felt that it made whole–group rehearsals run much more smoothly. I am excited about what the next semester brings!
The music has been fun to play while still challenging the orchestra to be better. I have enjoyed playing with the symphony this semester and look forward to next semester’s program.
We have a strong repertoire and instruction to help us all grow as individual musicians and as an ensemble.
I really like the selection of pieces for the December concert this year! I was a little saddened by the lack of Christmas music last year, but this year Rimsky Korsakov’s Christmas Eve suite really put me in the holiday spirit. Christmas and the winter holidays are one of the biggest joys in my life and I love being enveloped in holiday cheer via the music that we play.
I’ve really enjoyed Orchestra this semester. I think that Dr. Grandis has selected our pieces well, additionally, he has split up the orchestra into sectionals which significantly increased our progress and ability. He is also able to have fun and get along with the orchestra, which is always appreciated.
Professor Grandis is a very effective conductor and teaches the orchestra so much every semester. I am always impressed by the music he is able to bring from the orchestra, and he does a great job of teaching musicianship.
Dr. Grandis is a very good conductor and cares a lot about the music we’re playing.
Very fun class with challenging yet enjoyable music.
Professor Grandis is an excellent director and is very knowledgeable and invested in the orchestra.
I’m impressed by the instructor’s ability to make personal connections with the members of such a large class.
Always have and always will love orchestra, it’s great to have an amazing professor!
I think rehearsals are effective and productive. Music selection is fun to play, which makes rehearsal fun.
Orchestra is such a fun class! Grandis never fails to have an awesome program.
I love going to orchestra. Dr. Grandis is fun and makes rehearsals an enjoyable change of pace compared to the rest of my classes.
2021
No weaknesses – Grandis is straightforward (and admittedly savage, but that’s definitely a strength) which is something I enjoy. I appreciate him a lot. Although, I’d love to play some Shostakovich sometime…
Grandis knows what he is doing and conducts effectively to music that we all enjoy playing.
Two thumbs up for Grandis and orchestra.
Dr. Grandis is a great director! The pieces were excellent choices, and he adapted well to the circumstances of the pandemic. 10/10
Makes orchestra fun, even during covid.
Professor Grandis is a lot of fun, and I really love being in orchestra with him! I wish he still did a French phrase of the day/week and cracked more jokes during WMSO rehearsal, but I think that will come with more normalcy once the pandemic has cooled down a bit.
Professor Grandis really cares about his students and wants to help them make the most out of their time in orchestra. He is very organized and sticks to a rehearsal schedule in order to complete a piece. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about music and it shows through his teaching and conducting. He makes rehearsals fun and engaging while also being very productive.
Professor Grandis does a wonderful job conducting the orchestra, choosing repertoire appropriate for our skill level, and nurturing a fun and caring environment among students.
Definitely knows how to make us laugh. Takes time on difficult parts of music and knows musical style extremely well.
Even in a pandemic, Dr. Grandis made Orchestra really fun. I enjoyed the wide variety of music that we played and the overall experience.
Even with the limitations, Dr. Grandis made orchestra worth the time. I can’t wait for next semester!
He is humorous and makes rehearsal enjoyable. His musicology and orchestration expertise are valuable.
I have enjoyed playing in the symphony this semester. Professor Grandis is a good conductor, my peers are all very talented and dedicated musicians, and the repertoire has been challenging but fun. Overall, this has been a good experience. I hope to play in the symphony throughout all four years I am at William and Mary.
I really enjoy and look forward to orchestra, because we typically play fantastic pieces that I incredibly enjoy. Prof. Grandis is a wonderful director; I can’t wait to be a part of this group again in the spring!
I’ve really enjoyed being in orchestra– the class is well organized, most of the music is fun, and everyone is very talented.
Professor Grandis was very fun to learn from. He is very passionate about the music he picks and always provides constructive notes during rehearsals.
The instructor does a great job considering the needs of the entire orchestra. The time spent on sectionals is extremely appreciated.
It’s orchestra. I get to play music. It’s really fun. Enough said.
Professor Grandis did a great job communicating what needed to be done in order to improve our performances.
2020
Professor Grandis is an excellent orchestra conductor. He clearly enjoys conducting and interacting with orchestra students.
Professor Grandis goes to great lengths to keep everyone in the orchestra engaged and enthusiastic about working hard in rehearsal and in concert. He understood the gist of how each instrument works and was able to give helpful feedback on techniques and musicality for everybody in the orchestra.
Good music, light–hearted atmosphere, but still full of hard–working individuals. truly is a group of musicians playing music because they like to.
He is extremely amusing.
Professor Grandis always succeeds in making Orchestra rehearsals fun.
Prof Grandis is a skilled conductor, knowledgeable, and able to convey his knowledge to students. It also felt like he genuinely cared about us and wanted to talk to us and engage us.
I love Professor Grandis’ sense of humor and his weekly jokes! He makes going to class so much more entertaining and enjoyable 🙂
Prof Grandis creates a very fun learning atmosphere and is an incredible conductor. Music selection is great, and the students truly love playing in the orchestra.
Strengths: – dedication to musical enrichment, even though we couldn’t rehearse for half the semester – a great sense of humor, and a great taste in music – kind. No weaknesses.
Instructor very well suited, lighthearted, to keep the course relaxed but up to a full standard still.
Orchestra is by far my favorite class. Rehearsal is never boring, and Prof. Grandis is great at structuring rehearsal based on what needs the most work. It’s very rewarding to be a part of WMSO!
I really enjoy orchestra with Professor Grandis! He is a great director and teacher and has a great sense of humor. Though it was cut short this semester, thanks for a great year in orchestra!
I really like how you are able to keep the orchestra entertained and on task. The music that we play is also at a reasonable level.
Passion for the craft, and a humor to keep spirits light.
Professor Grandis is very passionate about the pieces that we perform, and his enthusiasm is very helpful during rehearsal.
Very knowledgeable, passionate professor who makes orchestra enjoyable.
The instructor kept us engaged during each class and provided so much musical knowledge to help our performance. It was a very interesting course, and I would take it again.
Listening to Professor Grandis’s assigned lectures and performances broadened my musical understanding and knowledge.
2019
Dr. Grandis is a fantastic conductor, and I greatly enjoyed working under him. While the music can sometimes be challenging, it was always engaging and well picked.
Orchestra is always very entertaining because of Grandis. He introduces a lot of fun into the course and has a good relationship with all the members.
Professor Grandis is very focused and always has control over the orchestra during rehearsal. I have learned a great deal about Western music from this class. I truly enjoy playing in the orchestra.
Professor Grandis is a great conductor and director. He leads rehearsal very effectively and has a good sense generally for what pieces are the right difficulty level for the orchestra. Professor Grandis definitely makes orchestra enjoyable!
Professor Grandis takes the time to improve each member of the orchestra through helpful tips and an outstanding knowledge of the compositions we play. His amazing sense of humor keeps a smile on everyone’s faces, and it is easy to enjoy him and his class.
I love working with Professor Grandis. Rehearsals are always a lot of fun and I enjoy creating music with him and the other musicians in the orchestra.
He is very caring and gave me a great opportunity to be in the orchestra!
Professor Grandis is a great leader and conductor. He does a good job of unifying the orchestra. Rehearsals were improved with the additional of sectionals. Sometimes repertoire is almost beyond the skills level of musicians, however the challenge is usually welcome.
Professor Grandis is the best conductor that I’ve ever had the privilege to work with in my entire orchestral career. I’ve had the most amazing time working with him over the four years that I’ve been a part of the orchestra here. Any time I find out people play orchestral instruments; I always recommend that they go audition for the orchestra. It’s a great group of students, led by the most knowledgeable, confident, and engaging conductor around.
Professor Grandis is a great conductor! He is very knowledgeable and confident in his conducting abilities. One of the best conductors I have had.
As always, Professor Grandis is an enthusiastic and fun director to work with. I’ve had a wonderful four years in this ensemble!
This has been one of my favorite courses in my 4 years at W&M! Professor Grandis is the best conductor I ever had. He provides valuable feedback on how to really grasp the essence of the pieces we perform, and he is always willing to hear course concerns!
I love playing in an orchestra and this is exactly how I imagined continuing it in college. I enjoy the music we work on!
The instructor does an excellent job at making the course enjoyable.
Prof. Grandis perfectly balances the push for excellence with the understanding that most students are not majors.
Professor Grandis is super passionate about music and the French language and is a wonderful director. He pushes us to sound as good as we can and implores us to work on what we can’t fix in class on our own. I’m so glad that I’ll continue orchestra next semester!
The course is the highlight of my Tuesday/Thursday. Instructor is fantastic, conducts well, chooses good concert programs, very funny and personable.
This class was very fun and a great stress reliever, and I can’t wait for next semester. Things I liked: – the music choices (especially Thais – it’s very interesting)– the high standard combined with a fun and more relaxed atmosphere– the organized rehearsals– the camaraderie and enjoyment.
Professor Grandis goes above and beyond when selecting music for the orchestra, and he is an amazing conductor!!
Grandis values the time of musicians and lets us know rehearsal schedules ahead of time so that no one sits around for two hours unnecessarily. He is communicative with everyone during rehearsal, efficiently utilizing rehearsal time. He also makes rehearsals fun, which is so important because the music is difficult, and it would be easy for him and us to be frustrated a lot.
Professor Grandis makes Orchestra an enjoyable place to be!
Professor Grandis fosters a positive and supportive musical environment for all students. I always look forward to rehearsal.
Dr. Grandis is an excellent conductor and has a great relationship with his students. He makes me have a greater appreciation for music.
Professor Grandis is a great director. He is obviously passionate about the work we do together and leads his students very well. His humor and friendship toward his students make the course even more worthwhile.
Prof. Grandis is an effective conductor and a caring director.
Efficient, thorough, and FUN rehearsals! I love the music we’re playing, and I can’t wait to be in the orchestra for the next three years!
2018
This year has been filled with some of my favorite classical repertoire, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the group this semester. Dr. Grandis runs rehearsals in a very effective and efficient manner and enables the group to sound good for each concert. He makes the rehearsal space very warm and inviting for all members. I look forward to next semester and the next few years that I will be able to participate in the group.
Very understanding and talented professor.
Professor Grandis really has a love for his students. He cares about each and every one of us and he wants us all to succeed. He tries to get to know his students on a personal level and he is very available to students who have questions/concerns. He is very active in the executive board for the orchestra.
Professor Grandis is very knowledgeable and a great professor. He is very helpful and dedicated to making the orchestra better. I’ve learned a lot through orchestra and greatly enjoyed this semester.
He’s a cool orchestra director – very competent and attentive to details in the orchestra.
–funny
–enjoyable
–knowledgeable
–can sometimes use weird jokes, but it’s okay because we get his sense of humor.
Dr. Grandis is an excellent conductor who I felt cared deeply about the success and education of the ensemble. I appreciated that he was willing to call out individual issues in a constructive way so as to better the ensemble.
I love Professor Grandis and the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra. It is always a great joy to be able to play with other passionate musicians and to be able to just have fun together. Professor Grandis does an amazing job in helping us see where the flaws in our playing are and helps us improve and fix them in a very effective manner.
Professor Grandis is one of my favorite professors at William & Mary. He is an exceptional conductor and Symphony director, and I have learned so much from him the past seven semester. He is always willing to listen to his students and take suggestions about course material.
Prof Grandis has a deep passion for the music we play, and a genuine interest in wanting our orchestra to play successfully. He makes meaningful connections with his students that allow for rehearsals to be very enjoyable and effective.
Orchestra was great throughout the semester. Professor Grandis is a very welcoming person. He allowed me to join even though my audition was a bust. I have improved so much throughout the semester, and I look forward to hopefully taking orchestra again. It’s always a pleasure to work with professor Grandis.
This is my fourth year in the orchestra, and I love it as much as I did when I was a freshman.
Grandis is a fantastic conductor and person.
2017
Speaking as a graduating senior who has played in orchestra all four years, the WMSO is truly one of the most excellent organizations on campus and Dr. Grandis, especially, is an outstanding conductor and mentor to whom the College is extremely lucky to have access.
Professor Grandis really knows what he’s doing and makes the class entertaining as well as productive.
Orchestra is a fantastic space to make music and unwind. Professor Grandis keeps rehearsals light and interesting. I look forward to
playing in the orchestra in the future!
Overall, I enjoy playing with the orchestra and being able to perform with such an amazing group. Professor Grandis makes rehearsal a lot of fun.
Dr. Grandis is a relatable and wonderful director.
Orchestra is a consistently enjoyable experience, and it has made me a better performer.
Professor Grandis is very good at communicating with the students and making sure he has a good relationship with them. He clearly voices his expectations for the class and is very easy to reach through email.
Professor Grandis provides constructive feedback to the musicians in the orchestra. Rehearsals are planned out well and make good use of time.
David Grandis is so great. He is an understanding professor and a great conductor. He’s also super funny.
Professor Grandis is by far my favorite professor at W&M and the best conductor I have ever had. He makes the class engaging and generally cares about every single player. He is well organized and is always there when you need a good laugh or have a question about a passage in the pieces that we play.
Love orchestra! Professor Grandis makes it so fun!
This is my 4th semester in the orchestra and every semester that I get to work with professor Grandis is truly amazing. He’s a great professor and conductor that I very much enjoy working with.
Clearly a musical genius and a great sense of humor.
Dr. Grandis is a delight to work with. He makes rehearsals fun and stress–free. I leave rehearsals feeling satisfied and like I have learned something new each time.
Professor Grandis is great! I like the variety of pieces that he chooses. He runs rehearsals well and efficiently and I appreciate that he emails out the rehearsal order before rehearsals.
Grandis is funny, intelligent, and very qualified for his job.
Grandis is great, music selection is always something cool that I’ve never played. I look forward to this class every Tuesday and Thursday.
The director is great. He’s charismatic and really cares about the music, and the students.
Professor Grandis is one of the best conductors that I have had.
I always enjoy coming to orchestra. Professor Grandis makes rehearsals fun and worthwhile.
Professor Grandis has a track record of choosing music that challenges the orchestra but is also possible for the orchestra to learn in time for the concert. He is friendly, welcoming, and understanding to all students and makes the WMSO a comfortable community.
This was another fantastic semester with the William and Mary Symphony Orchestra. I have enjoyed every semester of orchestra that I’ve done with Grandis, this being the 5th semester. I’m going to miss working with him while he is on sabbatical next semester.
Professor Grandis is one of my favorite professors on campus and the best conductor I have ever had. He is very good at explaining his expectations and is very available if you have questions about the music or just want to talk. I would highly recommend him and will be sad when he is gone on sabbatical next semester.
2016
Orchestra is consistently enjoyable and has enhanced my performance ability. The people are great and so is Professor Grandis!
Professor Grandis is extremely [knowlegable] about about the pieces we play and how they should be played; couple this with his enthusiasm for music and his excellent direction and you get an amazing experience.
I have improved so much as a musician this year from playing in Symphony Orchestra.
Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor/instructor. You can tell he really knows his stuff and is passionate about what he does. Aside from his conducting abilities, Professor Grandis is also a friendly person with a great sense of humor. I enjoy coming to Symphony Orchestra and I know I would have a completely different experience if he didn’t excel as much as he does. He can be tough to get a compliment/praise out of but we understand this to mean that he has high expectations for the ensemble. Keep up the good work! I look forward to participating in the Orchestra again next year (after auditioning of course). Thanks!
I really like Professor Grandis. He is a great conductor and a great teacher and understands that we have more on our plate than just orchestra. Plus, he’s also a really nice guy as well. He’s very funny in class and makes the class a lot of fun.
Professor Grandis is engaged with his students and has good relationships with them. He is respectful of everyone’s time and makes rehearsals fun and educational. Looking forward to being in orchestra with him for the next two years!
I love this class! The repertoire is exciting and beautiful, and preparing for the concerts is challenging and fun. Professor Grandis is a wonderful conductor.
Keep up the good work. Prof. Grandis is patient with his students while at the same time pushing them to become better. Being in his orchestra, I get the impression that he is motivated to come every day and really knows what he is talking about. Together with his charisma, he is a joy to have as a conductor.
Professor Grandis has been one of my favorite conductors, and I look forward to continue playing in the Symphony. 10/10
Professor Grandis is always supportive and helps us grow as musicians.
Professor Grandis is highly attentive and an inspiration. The course is challenging but enjoyable.
I really enjoy playing in the orchestra. I really like the pieces that Professor Grandis has chosen for us to play, and overall, it’s just a great experience.
Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor. You can tell he is quite accomplished and certainly knows what he is talking about; there is never a question in my mind that what he is saying is musically incorrect. His personality and energy make the Symphony Orchestra all that more enjoyable. I look forward to continuing to work with him in the semesters to come.
Prof. Grandis is passionate about his work and very knowledgeable about music. He also does a great job being patient with his students while at the same time pushing them to become better musicians. Overall, I believe Prof. Grandis did a great job this semester.
Professor Grandis is the best conductor I have ever had the pleasure of playing with. In addition, he is very understanding of students with issues and problems. PS Please don’t make him take a sabbatical from orchestra. That would be disastrous for us. It is a mistake.
Professor Grandis is great! He’s funny but also an effective orchestra director. He picks really good music for us to play, and rehearsal is always fun.
I love working with Professor Grandis! He is patient and kind and has a good sense of humor when we make mistakes. He never yells or gets angry; he just tells us how we can make our performance better. He picks good repertoires, with a mix of challenging and fun. He always is ready to make music, and definitely is everything you could ask for in a conductor!
Professor Grandis very obviously has a passion for conducting and for his students. He is a very good conductor and makes rehearsals fun, as well as extremely productive.
I absolutely love this class. Professor Grandis is, hands down, the best conductor I’ve ever gotten to work with.
Prof. Grandis is a great conductor and does a wonderful job of balancing fun and humor in rehearsals with the seriousness we need to get things done. I really appreciate the emails with the full rehearsal schedule in them not only because they give me a good understanding of the expectations every rehearsal, but also because they show that we have a conductor who is invested enough in our ensemble to take the time to put that kind of detail into preparation. I also like that we had the guest harpist this semester. It was a very rewarding experience both putting together such a difficult piece to the best of our ability and working with an amazing artist.
2015
I love this class! Professor Grandis is fantastic. He challenges us to become better musicians, and I think the results are really good. I have no criticisms!
The second semester in orchestra has proven to be much more like a family. Professor Grandis is still an excellent conductor and the rehearsals are very efficient and well organized. I am happy to be a part of the orchestra and look forward to playing in the future.
Professor Grandis does an excellent job conducting! He chooses a wide variety of musical selections that are fun yet often challenging and improve our playing. He gives insightful feedback as we learn the pieces. I would not have minded playing several more pieces for the full orchestra rather than songs which showcase soloists. Overall, I enjoyed this class very much and plan to take it again next semester!
Professor Grandis is very personable, easy to approach, and keeps the energy in rehearsals positive. He works well with our orchestra and is a great conductor. Have very much enjoyed playing in the orchestra this year.
Dr. Grandis is a wonderful conductor and has improved the orchestra in the year I have been in it.
Prof. Grandis is both knowledgeable and charismatic. After the conducting masterclass, we really had the opportunity to appreciate Prof. Grandis’ talent. He is patient with the orchestra yet pushes us to become better players. My only criticisms is to cut back on the jabs to the viola section…cough…cough…
Outstanding in every way!!! Grandis for president!!!!!
Professor Grandis chooses unique and challenging music for us, which I appreciate because it makes playing in the orchestra more fun. He is a very good instructor, helping us with all elements of our music, but I also appreciate that he trusts us to do so much on our own. He trusts us to put a lot of effort into learning the music, so he is able to pick such challenging repertoire; he also trusts us to run many aspects of the orchestra through our executive board.
Professor Grandis is a fantastic conductor of the symphony orchestra. He picks very challenging music, but it is because he believes we are capable of playing it. He helps us get through the initial difficulty to take a piece to performance quality every time, no matter how much work it requires. I really appreciate the variety of music he picks, as well as the fact that it is all original work and not arrangements. He is very personable and easy to approach and, in light of recent events, has made sure that members of the orchestra know we can go to him with any problems, musical or other. I hope Professor Grandis is the conductor of the symphony orchestra for a long time to come because he does a great job and helps make the orchestra both a challenging and welcoming place.
Wonderful conductor. Rehearsal time is used efficiently; Dr Grandis works to challenge us without overwhelming us and has managed to balance these opposing priorities very well. Additionally, he is a very enjoyable instructor.
Professor Grandis was perfect as usual.
Grandis is amazing! He’s the best orchestra conductor I have ever played with. He definitely knows how to conduct, and he also helps break the tedium of rehearsal with humor. I really like him!!
Prof. Grandis makes orchestra fantastic and exciting!
Professor Grandis is the best!! A truly wonderful, talented conductor and also just hilarious and a great guy. He is the best conductor the W&M music department has seen in a long time, across the board, and the administration would be absolute fools to ever let him go.
I’m going to miss playing in the orchestra so much! Professor Grandis is definitely my favorite professor. W&M is fortunate to have such an awesome teacher and conductor.
Prof. Grandis is doing a really good job with the orchestra. He is patient with his students yet pushes them to succeed. He clearly loves his job and is a pleasure to have as a conductor.
Prof Grandis is obviously invested in the music and knows what he wants from it. A very upbeat personality and makes personal connections with his students. He’s a bit hard to follow when he’s trying to explain a rhythmic line just by singing it, but otherwise, he’s clear and concise. A conductor one has trust in.
Professor Grandis is a knowledgeable, passionate conductor, and he is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. The repertoire covered in the course was challenging but not overwhelming.
Symphony Orchestra is a great course! This semester we’ve had the opportunity to play a unique variety of musical genres and have a great time in the process! Professor Grandis does a fantastic job selecting the pieces, helping us learn them and perform better from fun and constructive rehearsals! I enjoy the classes and concerts 🙂
Professor Grandis is fantastic. He does a great job of making symphony orchestra challenging by picking good repertoire. He clearly knows where the line is between challenging and too hard for us to be able to play. Professor Grandis is vital to the orchestra’s success.
Professor Grandis is a fantastic professor; he is probably one of the best conductors I have ever had. You can tell he really knows what he is doing. I am glad he is WM’s Symphony Orchestra professor, and I look forward to the following years I will have playing under him.
Great instructor and a great course, wouldn’t change a thing.
In just a semester I have really grown as a musician, and I have enjoyed what is for me a new experience playing with a full symphonic orchestra.
A very nice guy. Very approachable and understanding. Makes rehearsals fun with his accent and his jokes!
2014
Great Conductor. In one year, he’s already one of my favorites. He has a great future ahead of him as the WMSO conductor. really connects with students and is a great guy, very compassionate.
Grandis has done great things with this orchestra. He has great musical sense and is great at pushing the orchestra to perform better. He has a wonderful sense of humor and has a great relationship with all the members of the orchestra.
Orchestra has improved so much under Professor Grandis. The students are so much happier!
Professor Grandis works very hard and cares very much about the students and his job. W&M is very fortunate to have such a great professor.
I loved the music, and Professor Grandis made rehearsal enjoyable and effective!
Dr. Grandis is a very talented, expressive conductor and I think that the orchestra program will continue to grow under his direction. He is extremely approachable and is readily available to answer questions. The repertoire chosen this year was challenging and exciting and I enjoyed playing the majority of pieces on all concert programs.
Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor. He always appears to be happy to be in class and is enthusiastic. He was also very understanding when I had to miss rehearsal.
He is so musical and great with the students. Grandis is a real gem.
Prof. Grandis is knowledgeable, funny, enthusiastic, motivating, helpful, and a great guy. I hope he stays for all four years I’m in college.
He is absolutely an amazing conductor with much background knowledge. He inspires me each class and I love how detailed he can be when we are performing a piece. I am so glad to have him as the orchestra conductor. Hopefully for my entire undergraduate experience, four years.
Professor Grandis is the best musical educator that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with in my life. His expectations for the repertoire are well defined, he is patient when we struggle with music, and he always builds concert programs that [take] effort to learn, but he knows we can tackle them and perform them in whole. We all hope he continues as our conductor for many years to come.
The orchestra has risen to a new level of passion and performance under Grandis. His dedication to the students and our individual success both inside and out of the classroom is unparalleled in my experience at W&M. He is awesome. Professor Grandis was able to really motivate and inspire the orchestra so we were able to play really challenging music and enjoy it.
Orchestra is the highlight of my week.
Grandis is so great! He’s funny and always presents a challenge! I always look forward to orchestra rehearsals! I love orchestra, and Professor Grandis is an awesome director. He’s really funny and keeps things light, though focused, throughout the rehearsals.
He’s very good at getting things done and is genuinely interested in the orchestra. The pieces he chooses to play are excellent, and there’s a good variety. He’s just a really great fit for the orchestra, and I’m so glad we have him.
Professor Grandis is always prepared and knows exactly what we have to improve in each class. We always finish well everything we need to.
Grandis is fun and engaging. He is a great conductor, and he is good at explaining what he wants from each section. Orchestra is consistently one of my favorite parts of the week.
This has been a fantastic year in orchestra. It’s amazing what a difference it makes to have a conductor who is talented and a nice person.
Since Professor Grandis arrived there has been a greater sense of community among the members of the orchestra, and I look forward to coming to rehearsal.
Grandis is hilarious and makes orchestra fun. He’s also a great conductor.
Prof. Grandis is very approachable and has a good grasp of how students at W&M approach music.
WMSO is the best! W&M is super lucky to have Professor Grandis.
Prof. Grandis has so much enthusiasm for conducting, and is extremely helpful for all sections of the symphony.
Professor Grandis is very practical, good-humored, and has excellent taste in music.
Dr. Grandis is one of the best conductors that I have ever had. His prevailing sense of humor and great musical ability make orchestra rehearsals both interesting and fun!
Professor Grandis brings a positive attitude and environment to orchestra. I enjoy playing and being part of the group.
Great conductor and professor. Very understanding and helpful.
Professor Grandis is an amazing, effective conductor and an all around awesome and hilarious person.
Professor Grandis is a patient, knowledgeable conductor who is clearly loved by his students. He organizes the practice times well so there is no wasted time. William and Mary is lucky to have him as a professor.
Professor Grandis is excellent. I am very happy to have him as the conductor of the symphony orchestra. He both encourages us and challenges us, and I really enjoy the class.
Grandis is one of the best conductors I’ve ever had! He is amazing!
Professor Grandis is great! He is an outstanding musician and has really helped everyone in the group improve as musicians. His rehearsals are organized, clear, and effective. Not a minute is wasted, but it is still completely enjoyable. The repertoire is great- challenging, but possible. Grandis somehow manages to get us all to play things I never thought I could play. In addition to his musical ability, Professor Grandis makes every rehearsal fun. Great class!
Professor Grandis is an excellent conductor and he has improved the Symphony Orchestra a lot since the beginning of the semester. He makes rehearsal enjoyable and educational.
I have provided a comprehensive list of why Professor Grandis is amazing: He is an excellent conductor. He always chooses very good repertoire. He respects and is available to his students. He is devoted and passionate to what he does. He understands the students and relates to our time commitment. He makes the class amusing and interesting. He makes sure we are more than ready for concerts. He is fantastic.
Professor Grandis has definitely brought up the level of performance in the orchestra. There has been great improvement in our musicality, ensemble playing, and even just making people care more.
2013
Professor Grandis is absolutely wonderful. The orchestra had been falling apart over the past year and a half with the previous conductor, and our numbers and the enthusiasm of the members have dwindled. But I think this semester has been very enjoyable for everyone, and I’m hoping musicians will start to rejoin the orchestra. Professor Grandis is very approachable and is one of the best conductors I’ve ever played with.
It is really exciting that Grandis is here, I don’t think there is a better person on the planet for the group, but let’s achieve our full potential both through literature selection and higher standards for consistency and maturity in rehearsal.
Professor Grandis has an enthusiastic attitude and a good ear. He’s doing an excellent job with the orchestra.
Funny, passionate, and knowledgeable.
The professor is so effective in conducting the orchestra and I admire his musical abilities and the opportunities he gives us to cooperate as an orchestra. The music we play comes from a variety of levels, backgrounds and time periods thus we as musicians need Professor Grandis expertise to become more aware of the musical composers and become well rounded artists. I feel very welcomed and appreciated by this instructor and I admire his achievements. We are so lucky and deserve this talented professor.
Professor Grandis is great at bolstering enthusiasm in the orchestra and helping us play to the best of our abilities.
Grandis is a fantastic conductor! He knows how to connect with the students very well. His music selection is great, and he is very able to convey what he wants from the orchestra.
Grandis is charismatic and a fantastic conductor. His conducting is clear and precise. The music choices are a little ambitious, but everything works out by the concert. He also gives us little anecdotes about the pieces, so we know the character of the piece when we play. He also gives precise technical advice to some sections; he has a vision for how he wants us to play and knows how to get us to play that way. I have had so much fun in this class, and I look forward to next semester.
I’ve really enjoyed Orchestra. Prof. Grandis is a great person and an outstanding director. I have appreciated his kindness, sense of humor, and work ethic. He picks up on important musical details that we should improve and explains his ideas in a way which makes it easy for us to implement them and improve. Sometimes when we change the bowings it is unclear what they have been changed to. It might be helpful to have sectionals where it is just one section, and where we can clarify bowings and fingerings. Overall Orchestra has been great.
Very organized and effective in rehearsal – does a great job of both relating to and eliciting respect from students. Great interpretation of music and ability to get orchestra to play this interpretation.
Outstanding musician, great teacher, probably the best conductor I’ve had.
Professor Grandis is an effective conductor, and it’s a relief to have a conductor who actually cooperates with the student governance of the orchestra as well.
Professor Grandis is incredibly helpful and willing to go out of his way to help students. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from him in such a short time, and I really enjoy being a part of his class! He’s really funny and is very passionate and knowledgeable about what he does – he always has information about a piece.
Professor Grandis is one of the best conductors I have ever had. His passion and knowledge are unmatched. He keeps the orchestra interested by using his humor and positive attitude.
Professor Grandis is a pleasure to work with. He manages the orchestra well, and his excellent musical ability and sense of humor make rehearsals very enjoyable. He tells the funniest stories! And I love his passion toward the work we do. The difficulty of the material is just right, too.
Professor Grandis is a down-to-earth professor who does a good job at teaching us the importance of ensemble and focusing on things like dynamics. He does a great job at handling all of us and our pieces sound very full and complete because of his attention to detail.