Page 152 - CJFeb23

Awards/Recognitions

ment as a choral conductor; Shaw became his teacher, NEA, and as Northwestern Region ACDA President. He
musical advisor, mentor, employer, and dear friend. worked closely with Frieder Bernius, Eric Ericson, Rod-
Neuen also studied extensively with choral conductor ney Eichenberger, Robert Shaw and Morten Lauridsen,
Roger Wagner, and with musicologists Julius Herford and prepared choirs for James DePriest, Helmut Rilling,
and Alfred Mann. Margaret Hillis and Andrew Parrot. Bruce was a life-long
Neuen guest conducted/lectured in Europe, Asia, learner and teacher, an accolade he cherished.
Mexico, Canada, and nearly every state in the United
States, including national convention programs of Richard Cox was both a stellar con-
MENC and ACDA, which included a performance of ductor and also an acclaimed scholar
the choral portions of the J. S. Bach Mass in B Minor–a and author. He led the choral program
highlight of his career. The Choral Excellence Series at the University of North Carolina-
publishes a seven-set of videos and DVDs of Neuen’s Greensboro to national prominence
conducting and teaching methods, and Empower the during his forty-two-year tenure there.
Choir! – Concepts for Singers. All Neuen’s works, in- Also a dedicated church musician, he also conducted
cluding a complete edition of Handel’s Messiah, are professional and opera choruses, founding Bel Canto
translated into Korean and published by the Miwansun in Greensboro in 1982. He was NC-ACDA president
Publishing Company of South Korea. and Southern Region President, and a member of the
Neuen is a national patron of Delta Omicron Inter- Research and Publications Committee for many years.
national Music Fraternity, and a member of the national For his leadership, he received the Lara Hoggard Award
music honors society Pi Kappa Lambda. From his alma from NC-ACDA, the Choral Excellence Award from
mater, Ball State University, he is the recipient of: two Southern Region, and inducted into the NCMEA Hall
outstanding alumnus awards, the Dean of the College of of Fame. He was as profound influence on generations
Arts Award for “A Distinguished Career,” and an honor- of students, colleagues and friends, and left a wonderful
ary doctorate. He also received the Indiana governor’s legacy of musical excellence following his death on De-
highest award granted to a citizen: The Sagamore of cember 25, 2021, at the age of 92.
the Wabash, for “outstanding contributions to the nation
through quality choral music.” Carolee Curtright was professor
emeritus of Music Education and Choral
Activities at the University of Nebraska,
Wall of Honor Inductees teaching courses and conducting choirs.
Her choirs performed for the ACDA
North Central Region conferences, and
Bruce Browne (1941–2020) was pro- she directed numerous national choral clinics and fes-
fessor of choral studies and voice at tivals. Her prior experience included directing church
Portland State University for twenty-six choirs and handbell choirs. She is a published composer/
years, retiring there as emeritus and arranger with Boosey & Hawkes, Plymouth, Cherry
as conductor laureate of the Portland Lane, Heritage, Lorenz, Roger Dean and the Choristers
Symphonic Choir. He founded the pro- Guld. She was the founder of the Pueri Cantores Orga-
fessional choir Choral Cross Ties and co-founded Male nization of Choirs for Young Voices, and a community
Ensemble Northwest. Choirs under Browne’s direction women’s choir (Cantabile), and conducted the first Sing
performed at five National ACDA Conferences, four Around Nebraska Honor Choir. Curtright served as
MENC Nationals, an ISME Convention, and numer- North Central ACDA R&R Chair for Children’s Choirs.
ous regional and state events. In retirement, he founded She was recognized by her alma mater, Culver-Stockton
Choro in Schola, whose sole purpose is to bring qual- College, with an honorary Doctorate of Music, and
ity choral music and mentoring to area school choral received the Cornell Runestad Lifetime Service Award
programs. Dr. Browne served on national panels for from the Nebraska Choral Directors Association.

150 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 63 Number 6 February 2023 / 2023 ACDA National Conference Program Book