Peter Brown
In Memoriam: Professor
BIO
Professor Emeritus Peter M. Brown passed away on August 15 after a lengthy illness. Peter came to the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Music Department in 1975, teaching cello and orchestration, coaching chamber music, and conducting the University Orchestra until his retirement in 1995. In the later part of his career, his focus shifted to jazz, and he created many of the jazz courses that eventually led to the establishment of ¶¶Òõ̽̽’s Jazz Studies Program.
Peter performed almost all his life. After he graduated from Oberlin College, he spent two years in the Houston Symphony, performing under Leopold Stokowski. After receiving his graduate degree in music from the University of Illinois in 1960, he came to Vermont to teach at Lyndon State College and become principal cello of the Vermont Symphony (1961-1981). As his interest in jazz increased, be became a member of the well-known Burlington jazz group Science Fixion, with whom he toured Russia. After retirement he performed with L'Orchestre de l'Isle in Montréal and the Good Times Piano Trio with fellow Prof. Emeritus Thomas L. Read.
Prof. Brown was also an accomplished conductor. In addition to conducting the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Orchestra, he influenced many young Vermont musicians during his tenure as conductor of the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Peter is the second longest serving conductor of the VYO, conducting the group for 12 years (1967-1971 and 1973-1981).
Peter is survived by his wife Paulette; his daughters, Lucy and Anna; and many other family members. Memorial contributions in Peter's honor may be made to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. There will be a remembrance concert honoring Peter's life at The Unitarian Universalist Church, 152 Pearl St., Burlington on October 19, 2019, at 2 p.m.
Bio
Professor Emeritus Peter M. Brown passed away on August 15 after a lengthy illness. Peter came to the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Music Department in 1975, teaching cello and orchestration, coaching chamber music, and conducting the University Orchestra until his retirement in 1995. In the later part of his career, his focus shifted to jazz, and he created many of the jazz courses that eventually led to the establishment of ¶¶Òõ̽̽’s Jazz Studies Program.
Peter performed almost all his life. After he graduated from Oberlin College, he spent two years in the Houston Symphony, performing under Leopold Stokowski. After receiving his graduate degree in music from the University of Illinois in 1960, he came to Vermont to teach at Lyndon State College and become principal cello of the Vermont Symphony (1961-1981). As his interest in jazz increased, be became a member of the well-known Burlington jazz group Science Fixion, with whom he toured Russia. After retirement he performed with L'Orchestre de l'Isle in Montréal and the Good Times Piano Trio with fellow Prof. Emeritus Thomas L. Read.
Prof. Brown was also an accomplished conductor. In addition to conducting the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Orchestra, he influenced many young Vermont musicians during his tenure as conductor of the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Peter is the second longest serving conductor of the VYO, conducting the group for 12 years (1967-1971 and 1973-1981).
Peter is survived by his wife Paulette; his daughters, Lucy and Anna; and many other family members. Memorial contributions in Peter's honor may be made to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. There will be a remembrance concert honoring Peter's life at The Unitarian Universalist Church, 152 Pearl St., Burlington on October 19, 2019, at 2 p.m.