he has a bachelor's degree in music from the university of wyoming, and a master's degree in music from yale university. a clarinetist as well as a conductor, varineau has held adjunct teaching positions at cornerstone university, grand valley state university, and grand rapids community college. from 2013 until 2015, varineau held a full-time position on the music faculty of calvin college, conducting the calvin orchestra and the calvin community symphony. he continues to teach and conduct the calvin orchestra and community symphony as an adjunct professor.