Brown Music Building namesake inducted into Utah Music Hall of Fame

Twenty-eight years after her passing, Dorothy Brown was inducted into the Utah Music Educator’s Hall of Fame on Feb. 7 at the association’s conference held in St. George. The USU Eastern Brown Music Building is named after Dorothy and her husband Deane, who also directed choirs in the Carbon School District.
In the ceremony, the nominating committee and board said that Dorothy, as an educator, offered a level of music unmatched in this state, especially the rural areas.
Dorothy worked for 34-and-a-half years as a choral director and music educator in the elementary, secondary and college level. Stories shared by her colleagues and former students are a tribute to her life and evidence of her illustrious career.
Her choirs consistently took top awards in regional, state and multi-state competitions.
Whether at home, school or church and civic settings, she promoted a love of music throughout the community and state. An excellent piano and vocal coach, Dorothy taught piano and voice lessons in her home, in addition to preparing groups for performances.
Her influence was widespread, as she helped prepare operettas, musicals, vocal groups, solos and instrumental groups for community performances.
One of her greatest community contributions was the annual production of Handel’s “Messiah” for 25-consecutive years. She collaborated with other great musicians: Glen Fifield, Derral Siggard, her husband Dean and BYU professor Larry Sardoni, string leaders, community and guest musicians, invited guest soloists and a choir of more than 100-combined voices from the school and community to provide a top-rate production each year.
She has won many honors through the years including Outstanding Music Educator of Utah.
Accepting the award was her son George, an alumnus of USU Eastern (College of Eastern Utah), and Dorothy’s brother Cecil Jorgensen.
The Utah Music Educators is celebrating 70 years of existence. It is Utah’s largest organization of public and private music teachers dedicated to promoting excellence in music teaching and music performance.