Steve Anderson, the former dean of the Conservatory of Music and current director of the Brubeck Institute, will retire this summer. During his nearly four-decade career in higher education, he has performed in numerous countries, collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music and film industry and expanded the scope of jazz education. A reception will be held for Anderson at 5 p.m. April 11 with the location to be determined at a later date. The reception will be open to the University community.
“Dr. Anderson has made significant contributions to Pacific, including expanding the Brubeck Institute, leading the Conservatory for seven years, and attracting world-class musicians to perform on our campus," said President Pamela A. Eibeck. “His work has definitely been appreciated and his absence will be felt."
Anderson was hired by Pacific in 2000 as dean of the Conservatory of Music, the same year the Brubeck Institute was established to honor distinguished alumni, Dave and Iola Brubeck. He served as dean and on the Institute's advisory board from 2000 to 2007, acting as chair of the board from 2005 to 2007. In 2005, Anderson was named acting director of the Institute, and in 2007 he became the permanent director, stepping down as dean. During his administration, Anderson has produced the annual Brubeck Festival, which consists of concerts, lectures, panel discussions and displays that focus themes related to the ideas and accomplishments of Dave Brubeck. Festivals under Anderson's direction have focused on themes ranging from the words of Brubeck's music to Brubeck's “cultural diplomacy" efforts. Musicians who have performed at the Festival over the years have included Dave Brubeck, Darius Brubeck, Pete Escovedo, Christian McBride, and Hiromi.
Anderson also has managed the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet. Under his direction, the student group traveled extensively, performing throughout the United States and in Canada and Spain. They have recorded numerous CDs and achieved significant national recognition, winning seven DownBeat magazine student music awards, including best collegiate jazz group in the country in 2007, 2009, and 2010. Other accomplishments include the expansion of The Summer Jazz Colony into one of the premier high quality experiences for high school jazz musicians. Anderson also produced five residencies of Russian jazz musicians at the Institute with grants from the Library of Congress Open World Program.
Prior to coming to Pacific, Anderson was with the University of Kansas for 23 years as professor of trombone and chairman of the Department of Music & Dance. He also taught at Louisiana State University and the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He holds degrees from Southwestern College in Kansas, Louisiana State University, and the University of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma named him a Distinguished Alumni Fellow in 1997. He is a member of the International Trombone Association (President 1986-8), Historic Brass Society, Jazz Education Network, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha-Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Beta Delta. He has also served as an evaluator for accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Music.
He has performed as a soloist on tenor, alto, and Baroque trombones, chamber musician with brass quintets and Renaissance and Baroque ensembles, with military bands and in symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. His research and creative activity have focused on the trombone; he has edited, written and lectured about, and published works by 17th and 18th Century composers, and has worked with numerous contemporary composers to create new works for the solo alto trombone.
“Dr. Anderson has made significant contributions to Pacific, including expanding the Brubeck Institute, leading the Conservatory for seven years, and attracting world-class musicians to perform on our campus," said President Pamela A. Eibeck. “His work has definitely been appreciated and his absence will be felt."
Anderson was hired by Pacific in 2000 as dean of the Conservatory of Music, the same year the Brubeck Institute was established to honor distinguished alumni, Dave and Iola Brubeck. He served as dean and on the Institute's advisory board from 2000 to 2007, acting as chair of the board from 2005 to 2007. In 2005, Anderson was named acting director of the Institute, and in 2007 he became the permanent director, stepping down as dean. During his administration, Anderson has produced the annual Brubeck Festival, which consists of concerts, lectures, panel discussions and displays that focus themes related to the ideas and accomplishments of Dave Brubeck. Festivals under Anderson's direction have focused on themes ranging from the words of Brubeck's music to Brubeck's “cultural diplomacy" efforts. Musicians who have performed at the Festival over the years have included Dave Brubeck, Darius Brubeck, Pete Escovedo, Christian McBride, and Hiromi.
Anderson also has managed the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet. Under his direction, the student group traveled extensively, performing throughout the United States and in Canada and Spain. They have recorded numerous CDs and achieved significant national recognition, winning seven DownBeat magazine student music awards, including best collegiate jazz group in the country in 2007, 2009, and 2010. Other accomplishments include the expansion of The Summer Jazz Colony into one of the premier high quality experiences for high school jazz musicians. Anderson also produced five residencies of Russian jazz musicians at the Institute with grants from the Library of Congress Open World Program.
Prior to coming to Pacific, Anderson was with the University of Kansas for 23 years as professor of trombone and chairman of the Department of Music & Dance. He also taught at Louisiana State University and the Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland. He holds degrees from Southwestern College in Kansas, Louisiana State University, and the University of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma named him a Distinguished Alumni Fellow in 1997. He is a member of the International Trombone Association (President 1986-8), Historic Brass Society, Jazz Education Network, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha-Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Beta Delta. He has also served as an evaluator for accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Music.
He has performed as a soloist on tenor, alto, and Baroque trombones, chamber musician with brass quintets and Renaissance and Baroque ensembles, with military bands and in symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. His research and creative activity have focused on the trombone; he has edited, written and lectured about, and published works by 17th and 18th Century composers, and has worked with numerous contemporary composers to create new works for the solo alto trombone.
