Timothy Brent
Jazz Studies
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Born in Lakewood, Ohio (suburb of Cleveland), Tim Brent is currently an assistant professor and director of vocal jazz studies at the University of North Texas. Previously Tim was an assistant professor and program coordinator of Jazz Vocal Studies at The University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA), director of the vocal jazz program at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL) and is a 9-time DownBeat Award-Winning vocal jazz educator, pianist, arranger and performer. Tim received his Bachelor of Music (Music Education) from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) where he was a member of the vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company under the direction of Dr. Steve Zegree. He also holds a Master of Music (Jazz Pedagogy) and a Doctor of Musical Arts (Jazz Performance) from the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) where he was a teaching assistant and member of the vocal jazz ensemble JV 1 under program director Larry Lapin. Tim has had vocal arrangements published by the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press and has had numerous works performed and recorded by high school and college vocal groups throughout the country.
While living in Miami for 6 years and playing with some of Miami’s finest musicians, Tim’s interest in latin music (Brazilian, Cuban, and Caribbean) really grew. He learned to speak Spanish fluently (habla Español fluentemente) and had the opportunity to take a vocal sextet to Costa Rica to give concerts and workshops, as well as participate in two international choral festivals (Panamá and Costa Rica) as a guest clinician.
In his spare time Tim enjoys learning the Portugues language (gosta muito falar em Portugues), listening to NPR, reading sci-fi books, playing music with his new colleagues, and learning all about the great state of Texas.
