Bruce Browne, D.M.A.
Professor Emeritus of Music
Director of Choral Activities


Dr. Browne was Professor of Music and Chair of the Vocal and Choral Area at PSU. He was also Conductor Emeritus of the Portland Symphonic Choir and Founder and Director of the professional choir, Choral Cross-Ties. In 1986, Browne won an award for Teacher of the Year at his University,and is former President of the Northwest Division of ACDA.

Dr. Browne has built the vocal area and choral areas to a quality of international excellence since coming to PSU in 1978. At that time, there were no vocal juries, no area recitals, and choirs had never appeared at State or Regional conventions, much less at the National levels. Since 1985, the Chamber Choir has appered at 4 MENC National conventions, 1 ISME World Convention, and 4 ACDA National Conventions, recieving standing ovations at each.

In October, 2000, Browne was named one of the outstanding Music Educators in Higher Ed. by the MENC. He has been awarded sabbaticals to teach in Guadalajara and in London, and has been Visiting Professor at the University of Iowa. He has been jurist, clinician or guest conductor in virtually every region of the country, and in Germany,Spain, Estonia, England and Mexico.

Most recent activites include the Summer of 2003, when the Chamber Choir toured to the Baltics and Finland, and worked with both Veljo Tormis and Tonu Kaljuste, and 2005, perofrmances at International Chamber Choir competitions in Germany, resulting in both silver and gold medals. In the past, the group has also worked with such leading conductors as Frieder Bernius, Andrew Parrot, Robert Shaw, James DePreist, and Eric Ericson.

Uhder Browne's direction, the PSU Chamber Choir has recorded on the Albany Label, and in November 2003, recorded on the Hildegard Label the choral music of Margaret Garwood. Currently the Choir is recording the choral music of Veljo Tormis in a premiere recording in English, at the request of the composer. Release will in Fall 2006.

He has served on panels for the National Endowment of the Arts. Browne has been guest conductor for the Edmonton, Canada Pro Coro, and the Phoenix Bach Choir of Arizona.

Browne has recorded on the labels of Freshwater, Albany and Koch.