Academics

Department of Music

Faculty and Staff

Uzee Brown Uzee Brown, Jr., D.M.A.
Chairman, Voice
ubrown@morehouse.edu
Dr. Uzee Brown joined the faculty in 1973 and currently serves as Chairman of the Department of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, a Master of Music in Composition from Bowling Green State University, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. He has received numerous composition and arranging commissions ranging from National Public Radio and the Atlanta Symphony to colleges, universities, church and civic organizations, and his compositions have been heard throughout the world, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. His engagements include master classes, workshops and recitals of African-American music from work songs and spirituals to art songs. Additionally, Dr. Brown is Director of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir.
  
 

Stephanie Meadows
Administrative Assistant
smeadows@morehouse.edu

  
Jefferson Ethridge, D.M.A.
Piano
jethridg@morehouse.edu
Dr. Jefferson Ethridge holds a Bachelor of Music from Belhaven College, Jackson, MS, and a Master of Music and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty in 1991 and teaches Applied Piano, Masterpieces of Music, and History of Jazz. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also serves as faculty advisor to the Xi Eta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
  
Mel Foster, D.M.A.
Associate Professor, Voice
Brawley Hall, Room 312
Campus Phone: 2065
Educational Background: B.M.- Eastman School of Music, 1989;
M.M. and D.M.A - University of California, Santa Barbara, 1997.
Areas of Expertise: African-American Operatic Tenors,
Opera and Art Song Literature, and Operatic Vocal Technique
Recent Publications: Stage Director and premiered the role of King Melchior in Americolor Opera's Production of "3Kings and a Prince" in December, 2007 at the Callenwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia
mfoster@morehouse.edu
Dr. Mel Foster, tenor, joined the faculty in 1996 and is currently an Associate Professor of Music. His educational background consists of a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He teaches Applied Voice, Singer's Diction, Voice Class, and Masterpieces of Music.
  
  Calvin Grimes, Ph.D.
Music Theory
cgrimes@morehouse.edu
Dr. Calvin Grimes, Professor of Music (Theory), is the immediate past Dean of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.  He had served as a former chairman of the Department of Music and is Organist-Choirmaster Emeritus at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Atlanta. He joined the faculty in 1977 and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, and a Masters of Art and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory from the University of Iowa. Dr. Grimes has been widely engaged in regional and national scholarly panels, symposia, workshops, and lectures. Appointed by former governor Roy Barnes, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Humanities Council.
  
Melvin Jones Melvin Jones, M.M.
Professor of Music and Director of Bands
Brawley Hall, Band Rehearsal Room
Campus Phone: 2693
Educational Background: Master's of Music Degree in Jazz Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Areas of Expertise: Brass Pedagogy; Trumpet Performance and Instructional Techniques; Jazz History; Jazz Performance; Marching Band; Jazz Ensemble.
mjones@morehouse.edu
Mr. Melvin Jones was appointed to the Morehouse College Music Faculty in 2004 to serve as the Director of Bands. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance from Morehouse College and a Masters of Music degree in Jazz Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. Mr. Jones is a member of the IAJE (International Association of Jazz), the AAJC (African American Jazz Caucus), and the GAJE (Georgia Association of Jazz Educators). In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Jones has performed in a diverse range of musical settings with such names as Jennifer Lopez, Illinois Jacquet, Clark Terry, The Gordie Brown Comedy Show, The Bennie Goodman Legacy Band, TLC, as well as appearing on various recordings.
  
David Morrow David Morrow, D.M.A.
Associate Professor and Director of the Morehouse Glee Club
Brawley Hall, Room 308
Campus Phone: 2101
Faculty Web Page: www.morehouse.edu/facstaff/dmorrow
dmorrow@morehouse.edu
Dr. David Morrow has been a member of the music faculty since 1981. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice from Morehouse College, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Michigan and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati College/Conservatory of Music. He has been director of the Morehouse College Glee Club since 1987. Under his direction the Glee Club has performed on campus, nationally, internationally, and regularly with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He is often engaged as a choral clinician and guest conductor.
  
Robert Tanner Robert Tanner, D.M.A.
Composition and Theory
rtanner@morehouse.edu
Dr. Robert Tanner joined the Morehouse College music faculty in 1999 and currently teaches courses in composition, theory, and music history. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Industry from Capital University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in composition from The Ohio State University. Dr. Tanner is the recipient of the ASCAP Young Composers Award for Ornaments and the Ruth Friscoe Prize for Romance for Alto Saxophone and Piano and his commissions include works by the OSU Symphony Orchestra and the Luna Nova New Music Ensemble.

 


Adjunct Faculty


Spencer Brewer, M.M.
Lower Strings

Eric Croone, J.D.
Introduction to Music Industry

Roumena Georgieva, M.M.
Director, AUC Orchestra Program

Jacqueline Howard, M.M.
Music Appreciation

Clarence Johnson, M.M.
Saxophone, Concert Band

Terrance McKnight, M.M.
Piano, Music Appreciation

Timothy Miller, M.M.
Voice, Voice Seminar, Oral Traditions

Michael Moore, B.M.
Tuba

Thomasina Neely-Chandler, Ph.D.
Church Music, Class Piano

W. Floyd Ruffin, M.M.
Piano, Music Appreciation

Allysia Thompson, M.M.
Class Piano

Shuang Wu, M.M.
Upper Strings