Vanden Wyngaard, an associate professor of music at Grand Valley State University, is a native of Grand Rapids and has been a full time faculty member at Grand Valley since 1967; she chaired the GVSU Music Department from 1984 to 1996. She is past president of the Grand Rapids Piano Teachers Forum and the Michigan Music Teachers Association. Her recording of twentieth century music on the Orion Label includes music of Debussy, Berg, and Ginastera.

     Vanden Wyngaard has been principal performer and teacher on GVSU's Cook Carillon since its dedication in 1994. She joins the worldwide community of carillonneurs and in June 2000 completed her study of the carillon art at the Netherlands Carillon School. In 1999, Vanden Wyngaard completed requirements for carillonneur member status in the Guild of Carillonneurs of North America.