Business Courier: Choral conductor, a CCM graduate, is ‘a man who dared to dream'
In an interview with the Cincinnati Business Courier, recent University of Cincinnati graduate and choral conductor Carlos B. Brown shared memories of his mentors along with his post-pandemic musical plans.
Carlos Brown just earned his diploma for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at UC's College-Conservatory of Music. Photo/Gary L. Lewis
Brown's Atlanta high school chorus teacher, Rushia Johnson Stephens, died on March 19 of COVID-19.
“I lost the person who was a mentor of mine due to the pandemic. She discovered my voice; she discovered a talent in me that I never knew I had,” he said. “It gives me the motivation to program some beautiful music that I think will touch people.”
Brown, who just earned his diploma for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at UC's College-Conservatory of Music, hopes to plan a concert with powerful settings of Psalms that will inspire and encourage audiences. Brown is the director of choral activities at Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio.
“People are going to be coming to concerts, and they’re going to need some encouragement, something that will inspire them, lift their heads up,” he said. “I pray through my programming that there’s something that will give somebody hope.”
Related Stories
Investing in the minds that shape our skyline
April 6, 2026
In 2002, the City of Cincinnati began the demolition of the 32-year-old Riverfront Stadium. This created a slew of memories for Cincinnati residents who knew the stadium as the home of the “Big Red Machine” baseball dynasty and the place where Cincinnati hosted three World Series Championships. Riverfront Stadium was especially meaningful to its former construction manager, Donald E. Wehmeyer, Eve ’61.
A day of hoops and fun supports families impacted by homelessness
April 6, 2026
CPS All-Star Showcase returned to UC’s Fifth Third Arena, Saturday, April 4, highligting the partnership between Cincinnati Public Schools and the University of Cincinnati. Local media covered the daylong sports event which showcased some Cincinnati's finest high school athletes. Proceeds from the event benefited Project Connect.
What is the 'cicada' COVID variant?
April 6, 2026
A formerly rare strain of COVID, BA.3.2, now is showing up in Ohio and 24 other states. Experts say so far it hasn't caused illness any more severe than other strains, but it might be somewhat more resistant to vaccines, as 91.7 WVXU News recently reported. Scientists have nicknamed the variant "cicada" due to its former low profile and current resurgence.