A book of memories is being created, and alumni are invited to send letters to Dean Arthur Ostrander in care of kwestmiller@ithaca.edu or to the dean’s attention in care of the School of Music, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850. All are welcome to attend the alumni big band concert at 8:15 p.m. on April 26 to honor Brown’s distinguished career at IC.
With a career spanning five decades, jazz man Steve Brown will retire from teaching this year. A special alumni big band concert will pay tribute to Brown’s career on Saturday, April 26, at 8:15 p.m. in Ford Hall.
Steve Brown first came to IC as a classical percussion student. Brown became the fledgling jazz club’s guitarist during his freshman year. When the previous student director graduated, Brown took over, directing the band for most of his remaining undergraduate years. After his graduation in 1964, he taught public school music on Long Island for three years before returning to IC in 1967 to continue his studies. He proposed his own program of study, becoming the first-ever recipient of a master’s degree in classical guitar from IC. During his master’s degree study, Brown returned to playing in the jazz lab, performing with his brother, Ray, who was directing at the time.
As soon as he completed his master’s degree, IC hired him to lead the big band and teach jazz courses, which he’s been doing ever since. As jazz studies became an integral part of the School of Music, the B.M. degree in jazz studies was created in 1988. Over the years, the jazz bands and classes have included students majoring in performance, education, and jazz studies. As the principal jazz studies professor, Brown’s teaching has been varied. He has directed the jazz workshop and electric guitar ensemble, taught jazz guitar and electric bass students, and taught classes in jazz piano, jazz history, improvisation, and arranging.
