Montreal, Quebec, CANADA- KoSA Arts Centre proudly announces the appointment of Jeri Brown as Events/Program Director & Artistic Consultant. Ms. Brown arrives at the KoSA Arts Centre in addition to her career as a music performer, recording artist, artistic director and educator as Associate Professor in the Faculty of Music at Montreal's Concordia University, specializing in jazz, vocal studies, fine arts management and world music history.
Jeri Brown will invigorate the recently opened KoSA Arts Centre with coordination of seasonal programming for music, theatre, dance, painting, drawing, general arts, fundraisers, school events, a youth music festival, art exhibits, general venue rentals and collaborations: all with the objective of increasing activities, visibility and future business for the centre.
Ms. Brown will also headline a special gala event that is currently being planned at the centre. Nick Patulli, Director of Operations, KoSA Arts Centre said of the appointment: “I am ecstatic to have Jeri Brown on board. Not only is she an internationally acclaimed artist and a professor of music at Concordia, but she is also a person who is committed to community development. I am looking forward to the exciting projects and events to come."
KoSA Arts Centre will also be home base for Jeri Brown's vocal academy and production company, Jongleur Productions. Jeri writes, “I have a passion for service and education in the arts, and I have always supported the creation and sustenance of art centers across the globe. This appointment will afford me the opportunity to give back to the artistic community and contribute to its future as an educator and artistic role model. Historically, arts centres have paved the way for much of the advances in the arts and have created a multicultural balance in community. In many ways it all begins with a beautiful performance space. This is where my adventure begins with the KoSA Centre."
Jeri Brown brings to KoSA Arts Centre her international experience and acclaim as a vocalist, performer and recording artist. Her vocal four-octave range talent has afforded her a lifetime of international vocal experiences. She is a recipient of multiple awards and honours including multiple Canadian JUNO Award nominations, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award; named one of the Top 50 Jazz Vocalists by Jazz Hot in France; “CHOC de l' Année" by Jazzman in France. She records for Justin Time Records, in addition to her independent recordings on her Jongleur record label. Don Heckman, of the Los Angeles Times wrote: “Brown's voice is so compelling, delivered with such a stunning blend of musicality and expressiveness that the content of the songs fades in importance. She could, to paraphrase the classic phrase, sing the telephone book and make you remember every number."
Jeri Brown was born in St. Louis, Missouri and began singing publicly at the age of six. While in high school, she performed with the St. Louis Symphony Cosmopolitan Singers, and received a scholarship from Westmar University in Iowa. She studied classical voice and holds a Bachelors degree from this university; and a Masters degree from Kent State University. She has performed with the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and toured internationally. She was the lead vocalist for bandleader and drummer Bob McKee, which led to performances with artists including Ellis Marsalis, Dr. Billy Taylor and Dizzy Gillespie. During this period, she became the first black merchant to manage a children's clothing boutique at the Hilton hotel in Ohio after she had been performing there and mentioned to hotel management that there were no black merchants in the hotel's plaza. In the 1980's, Ms. Brown moved to New York and worked for a time as a secretary for Sutton Artists Management, which represented artists such as Dizzy Gillespie.
In 1989, Jeri Brown moved to Canada in response to a job advertisement in Downbeat Magazine for a vocal teacher at Montreal's Concordia University, where she is currently a tenured professor. Ms. Brown has taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cleveland State University, and The University of Akron and at the University of Massachusetts. She continues an active career as an artist that includes collaborations with artists such as Kenny Wheeler, Grady Tate, Betty Carter, Ellis Marsalis, Fred Hersch, Dr. Billy Taylor, Avery Sharpe, David Murray, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Rufus Reid, and Jimmy Rowles. She appears with her trio, including John Betch, Alain Jean-Marie and Moncef Genoud.
KoSA Arts Centre: The West End, Montreal based KoSA Arts Centre opened its doors in 2009, and is devoted to presenting and hosting activities such as live performances, general entertainment, cultural activities, corporate events, and special occasions. The Centre is owned and operated by Mr. Nick Patulli. KoSA Arts Centre is also home to the KoSA Music Academy owned and operated by musician, Aldo Mazza.
Jeri Brown will invigorate the recently opened KoSA Arts Centre with coordination of seasonal programming for music, theatre, dance, painting, drawing, general arts, fundraisers, school events, a youth music festival, art exhibits, general venue rentals and collaborations: all with the objective of increasing activities, visibility and future business for the centre.
Ms. Brown will also headline a special gala event that is currently being planned at the centre. Nick Patulli, Director of Operations, KoSA Arts Centre said of the appointment: “I am ecstatic to have Jeri Brown on board. Not only is she an internationally acclaimed artist and a professor of music at Concordia, but she is also a person who is committed to community development. I am looking forward to the exciting projects and events to come."
KoSA Arts Centre will also be home base for Jeri Brown's vocal academy and production company, Jongleur Productions. Jeri writes, “I have a passion for service and education in the arts, and I have always supported the creation and sustenance of art centers across the globe. This appointment will afford me the opportunity to give back to the artistic community and contribute to its future as an educator and artistic role model. Historically, arts centres have paved the way for much of the advances in the arts and have created a multicultural balance in community. In many ways it all begins with a beautiful performance space. This is where my adventure begins with the KoSA Centre."
Jeri Brown brings to KoSA Arts Centre her international experience and acclaim as a vocalist, performer and recording artist. Her vocal four-octave range talent has afforded her a lifetime of international vocal experiences. She is a recipient of multiple awards and honours including multiple Canadian JUNO Award nominations, a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award; named one of the Top 50 Jazz Vocalists by Jazz Hot in France; “CHOC de l' Année" by Jazzman in France. She records for Justin Time Records, in addition to her independent recordings on her Jongleur record label. Don Heckman, of the Los Angeles Times wrote: “Brown's voice is so compelling, delivered with such a stunning blend of musicality and expressiveness that the content of the songs fades in importance. She could, to paraphrase the classic phrase, sing the telephone book and make you remember every number."
Jeri Brown was born in St. Louis, Missouri and began singing publicly at the age of six. While in high school, she performed with the St. Louis Symphony Cosmopolitan Singers, and received a scholarship from Westmar University in Iowa. She studied classical voice and holds a Bachelors degree from this university; and a Masters degree from Kent State University. She has performed with the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and toured internationally. She was the lead vocalist for bandleader and drummer Bob McKee, which led to performances with artists including Ellis Marsalis, Dr. Billy Taylor and Dizzy Gillespie. During this period, she became the first black merchant to manage a children's clothing boutique at the Hilton hotel in Ohio after she had been performing there and mentioned to hotel management that there were no black merchants in the hotel's plaza. In the 1980's, Ms. Brown moved to New York and worked for a time as a secretary for Sutton Artists Management, which represented artists such as Dizzy Gillespie.
In 1989, Jeri Brown moved to Canada in response to a job advertisement in Downbeat Magazine for a vocal teacher at Montreal's Concordia University, where she is currently a tenured professor. Ms. Brown has taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cleveland State University, and The University of Akron and at the University of Massachusetts. She continues an active career as an artist that includes collaborations with artists such as Kenny Wheeler, Grady Tate, Betty Carter, Ellis Marsalis, Fred Hersch, Dr. Billy Taylor, Avery Sharpe, David Murray, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Rufus Reid, and Jimmy Rowles. She appears with her trio, including John Betch, Alain Jean-Marie and Moncef Genoud.
KoSA Arts Centre: The West End, Montreal based KoSA Arts Centre opened its doors in 2009, and is devoted to presenting and hosting activities such as live performances, general entertainment, cultural activities, corporate events, and special occasions. The Centre is owned and operated by Mr. Nick Patulli. KoSA Arts Centre is also home to the KoSA Music Academy owned and operated by musician, Aldo Mazza.
For more information contact Vivo Musique Internationale.
