By Tiffany Edwards , University Relations
Dr. John Salmon, professor of piano at UNCG, will receive the distinguished achievement award from the Brubeck Institute, located at the University of the Pacific, Brubeck’s alma mater. He will also perform April 6 as part of the institute’s annual Brubeck festival.
“John’s work with Dave Brubeck’s music has been outstanding as a performer, editor, and scholar and has been going on for many years. It is for this outstanding work that the board is recognizing him with the 2006 Brubeck Institute Award for Distinguished Achievement,” said Steve Anderson, dean of the UP Conservatory of Music and director of the Brubeck Institute.
The Brubeck Institute was begun in 2000 by the University of the Pacific to recognize alumni Dave and Iola Brubeck. The Brubeck Institute advisory board nominates people who have an outstanding record of working with Brubeck, or with some aspect of his music, or with other activities that advance causes that are of profound interest to the well known artist.
The institute will present the award to Salmon Wednesday, April 5, during its annual Brubeck Festival. The professor will present a recital of Brubeck’s piano works Thursday, April 6. Other artists scheduled to perform during the festival include: The David Grisman Quintet, Pancho Sanchez Latin Band, Bobby Watson, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. For more information, visit www.brubeckinstitute.org.
Salmon has recorded two CDs of Brubeck’s classical music and will soon release a recording of Brubeck’s nocturnes through publisher, Naxos. In addition, he is the author of the book, “The Piano Sonatas of Carl Loewe,” and has published articles in many respected publications, including American Music Teacher, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Clavier, and Piano Today, among others.
Equally adept in jazz and classical genres, Salmon is a member of the faculty jazz trio at UNCG School of Music, where he has taught since 1989. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he holds the Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas. Salmon has championed piano pieces by many contemporary composers, especially Brubeck, who dedicated two pieces to Salmon.
