DBU's Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities: Dr. Joshua Brown

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing" (Psalm 100:1-2 KJV). The creating and performing of beautiful music unto the Lord is a gift that stretches back through history into the heavenly choirs of angelic praise. Dr. Joshua Brown, who recently joined the DBU faculty as Assistant Professor of Music, is committed to teaching students how to hone that gift with excellence in a way that both honors God as the Giver of music and moves hearts and minds with joy and gladness for all who listen.

Dr. Brown grew up in Madisonville, Texas, in a Christian family and was nurtured by a strong church community through conversion to Christ, spiritual growth, service and leadership experiences, and opportunities to hone his developing musical gifts and calling to the glory of God. During his high school years, he was a part of the Texas Baptist All-State Choir, where he met Dr. Stephen Holcomb, who served for three decades as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at DBU. "It was a wonderful experience of faith and music that ultimately helped lead me to DBU," he reflects.

Dr. Brown went on to receive his Bachelor of Music in Church Music from DBU, followed by a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Baylor University. During this time, Dr. Brown served as the High School Choral Director in Abilene. "Teaching public school for nearly a decade helped me realize that ministry can take on many forms," he says, "and that God can use us to share his love and light in many different contexts." It was in Abilene that he also met his wife, Hillary. They have two daughters, Myra and Ruth, and they recently celebrated their tenth anniversary.

Before coming to DBU and while completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from UNT, Dr. Brown served on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University, where his love for ministry in the context of a Christian liberal arts education was confirmed. Now at DBU, Dr. Brown leads the DBU Grand Chorus and Chorale, while teaching courses in conducting and choral literature, with plans to teach a graduate course in the new Master of Music Education Degree program (under current construction).  

Wherever the DBU choir groups perform, Dr. Brown purposely designs musical programs that foster rich conversations of faith and make a deep, spiritual connection with audiences. "From scheduling choral worship events, to structuring our choral concerts in such a way that they glorify God, to rehearsal discussions that involve faith and music, my faith and the faith of my students are interconnected to our musical lives," says Dr. Brown.