Sawyer Kroll

Staff Writer

Say hello to Dr. Brown, Milken’s latest addition to the Performing Arts Department.

After recently receiving his doctorate from USC in music composition, David Brown has made his way to Milken to become the “Instrumental Music Teacher.” Replacing Dr. Russell Steinberg’s position, Brown is teaching Music Theory and conducting the Upper and Middle School Orchestras.

However, this is not Brown’s first teaching rodeo. Over the course of his collegiate career, Brown has taught at various institutions across America, including nearby Sinai Akiba Academy.

“I have always loved learning as well as teaching,” Brown explains.

Aside from teaching, Brown has conducted many opera and musical theater productions across the US, and even parts of Europe. Additionally, Brown has composed numerous pieces for choirs and orchestras, as well as other, different ensembles.

While Brown has enjoyed getting to know his students, he also looks towards the future and for ways  to enhance Milken’s music program. Dr. Brown hopes to improve on the existing orchestra program at Milken, which has suffered in recent years due to a dwindling number of participants.

The program, which he says has “tremendous potential”, looks to expand in size through the new Middle School Orchestra program and through coordination with many feeder schools.

“In five years, [the orchestra program] will be much larger,” Brown promises.

And Brown backs that up with previous successes, including Sinai Akiba’s orchestra doubling to nearly 60 students under his guidance.

“I have an incredible amount of respect towards Dr. Brown,” AP Music Theory student Stevie Gordon ‘17 explains. “His love for music is unparalleled and his ingenuity a brilliance will never cease to impress me.”

Obviously, Brown has made a positive immediate impact on the school, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors here at Milken.