Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephen P Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Stephen P thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was seven years old, my parents took me to a symphony orchestra concert. It was the first time I remember experiencing anything like that, and I was mesmerized by the sounds of the music as well as the stage environment. During the concert, I listened intently and my head hung over the mezzanine railing in awe. Being an introverted kid, I didn’t say anything on the way home, still trying to process everything that had just happened. I sat in the back seat, quiet as a mouse. Finally my mother piped up and asked me, “Stephen, is everything okay? Did you enjoy the concert?” She was trying to coax any response she could get out of me. “I want to do what the man in the front was doing.” Was my reply. From that day on, I knew I was on a lifelong journey, not only to continue to learn and play music myself, but to lead ensembles as a conductor.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Since graduating from Trinity College of Music in London, earning a Masters degree in conducting and beginning my career in the performing arts, much of my life’s work has been focused not only on playing music as a classical percussionist, but also conducting various ensembles (orchestras, concert bands, choirs, chamber groups, stage musicals) and teaching, in secondary school, college, and community settings. I have composed music since my teen years and performed many of these works in self-produced concerts. My career has spanned over 30 years and I’ve worked on 4 continents. As a consummate coach and guide, I view all of my work with individual musicians and ensembles as an opportunity to help them achieve more than they thought possible, musically and personally. Folks who work with me have often said that their musicianship has grown and they are better people as a result of our encounter.

As General Director of the Dunedin Music Society, a community music 501(c)(3) organization, I seek to help others connect local communities with live music. The live music experience includes performers, their direct audience members, and the community at large, so our mission encompasses an entire breadth of people groups. What sets us apart from other organizations is this all-inclusive focus – rather than just making music by performers for performers as a personal outlet, we tap into the healing and connective properties of live music making for all involved. I’m so proud that our Society has grown from 1 ensemble, a local concert band formed in 1981, to 5 regular ensembles and an annual regional festival involving participants from multiple counties. We want our followers, fans, and community friends to know that music is the language of emotions that all can and should participate in, and it is essential and vital to the human condition.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think the last 2.5 years, since the beginning of the pandemic-driven lockdowns, have been a harsh test of resilience for many artists, especially working performers and those who conduct and teach groups of them. As we know, the opportunities for gathering together, to attend concerts and musical events in person, all went away overnight. This not only hurt the audience members, but most gravely the performers, stage crew members, and all the other professionals that contribute to a significant live music experience. In March 2020, the Dunedin Music Society took one week off to regroup, think through what we had to do to survive, and continue forward. We instituted new events like a giving telethon, moved performances and educational opportunities online, solicited local and state grants, and even made the annual concert band festival virtual (which allowed for more participating bands to send in videos and a wider, global audience – up to 13,000 people – to attend online).
This timeframe has been a test of our mettle and a testament to the perseverance of artists everywhere.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a performing artist is by far contributing to the impact felt by others around us. I often say that we musicians strive to provide “goosebump-worthy” experiences (meaning the goosebumps resulting from feeling something deeply). We at the Dunedin Music Society truly believe that live music is essential to the heart. What I do as a conductor, and what every musician in an ensemble does, is share a moment in time with audiences that allows each participating member to process their emotions in a collective environment. When we recognize that the participants in this endeavor have reached that ability, have given themselves permission to feel something, and there is a palpable sense of that in the room, we have achieved our purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: dunedinmusicsociety.org
• Instagram: dunedinmusicsociety
• Facebook: Dunedin Music Society
• Linkedin: dunedinmusicsociety
• Youtube: Dunedin Music Society

Image Credits
Dunedin Music Society (Facebook page)