Berglin, Jacob
Jacob A. Berglin is a choral teacher education specialist with an interest in access and diversity in the classroom and beyond. He earned degrees from Valparaiso University (BM, vocal performance), Western Michigan University (’08, teaching certification), the University of Michigan (MM), and Northwestern University (PhD).
His work involves access to music education based on race, class, and gender; the social and vocal concerns surrounding transgender student participation in choral music programs; and incorporating contemporary a cappella process and practice into the secondary choral classroom.
He is the author of chapters in The Choral Conductor’s Companion and Humane Music Education for the Common Good, and his scholarly writing has been featured in numerous sources, including the Bulletin for the Council on Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Arts Education, and the Choral Journal.
Before earning his doctoral degree, Dr. Berglin taught middle and high school music, where his responsibilities included directing choirs and teaching secondary general music courses (piano, guitar, and music technology). Dr. Berglin is also an experienced professional and community choral singer, and he is an active clinician and adjudicator in both classical choral and contemporary a cappella settings, most recently conducting the MSVMA 789 SSA State Honors Choir at the 2026 Michigan Music Conference.
Dr. Berglin teaches choral music education at Western Michigan University and lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with his incredible wife, Beth, and his amazing children, Miles and Ivy.