Stephen Zegree

With his own chorus of family and friends at his side, and the music that was his life's work playing in the background, Stephen (Steve) Zegree passed away on Saturday morning, March 7, in Bloomington, Indiana. He was internationally respected as one of the giants of vocal jazz conducting and education, as well as being a gifted pianist, arranger, and producer. "The mentor to so many in his field, the creator of so much of what we hear, the passionate enthusiast of his art and a supreme motivator of the young," reflected Gwyn Richards, Dean of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where Steve was a full professor and director of The Singing Hoosiers and the award-winning Vocal Jazz Ensemble I. Prior to coming to Indiana three years ago, he was the Bobby McFerrin Distinguished Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, a position endowed by Mr. McFerrin in recognition of Steve's exceptional talents. In his 34 years at the University, his singing group, Gold Company, toured the world, performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center several times, and won almost 50 performance awards from Downbeat Magazine. Steve himself was selected for the Downbeat Jazz Educator's Hall of Fame. Known as a demanding and inspiring teacher, Steve was a man of great good humor, kindness and exceptional passion. Born in 1953, Steve, the son of Thaddeus and Lili Zegree, spent his childhood in Washington and California. He was recognized as a musical prodigy, playing the piano with his father from the age of three. By the 7th grade, he had organized and led a group of older boys in a garage band, "The Zigs", that played at school dances and clubs. His first piano teacher, Mrs. Lackey, was prescient in allowing him to stray from the classical training traditions thus engaging his interest and keeping him at the piano. He went on to receive degrees and a doctorate in piano performance and choral conducting and was a Steinway Artist. He served on the selection committee for the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival. In addition to his full engagement in conducting and teaching, Steve continued piano performance with symphony orchestras, solo concerts, in national broadway touring shows, and for 34 years with the jazz group, Western Jazz Quartet. He credited his older sister Joan for introducing him to jazz music very early on, though his love for the classics--especially his parents' beloved Chopin--remained with him throughout his life. His inquisitive spirit, immense talents and professional drive led Steve to conducting and teaching gigs at major jazz festivals, at international vocal conferences and symposiums, and performances with such luminaries as Manhattan Transfer, Dave Brubeck, Mark Murphy, Paquito D'Rivera, Jon Hendricks, and Bobby McFerrin. He was the arranger and rehearsal director for Nick Lachey's winning choir on NBC's telecast of "Clash of the Choirs". During the 2008 Olympics in China, Steve conducted the World Youth Choir with guest singer Jackie Chan (yes, that Jackie Chan) as well as for the Opening Ceremonies. More than 100 of Steve's arrangements have been published and are in use by choral groups around the world. He wrote two of the definitive books on jazz singing and performance. Publisher of his book, The Wow Factor: How to Create it, Inspire it and Achieve it, Emily Crocker of Hal Leonard wrote, "Steve was the sweetest man ever and a giant of an educator. We would need a U-Haul truck to remove the exclamation points and ellipses from that manuscript, but like Steve, it was effusive and full of wisdom and humor." Steve is survived by his wife and love of his life, Laurie Hofmann, his two best productions-- children Sarah and Nat (in whose school lunch boxes he would put handwritten notes each day), both fine musicians, and his sister Joan Zegree. Steve also leaves a legacy to a larger family on 6 continents: the thousands of singers and musicians, both professional and amateur, who had the opportunity to study, learn, and perform with this most extraordinary man of such exceptional talent and warmth. When asked about his own singing gifts, Steve would say, with intended irony, that he had "a small but ugly voice." Those who knew him would say different. He had a magnificent voice. We love you, we already miss you, and we will treasure you always. Two scholarship funds have been established. At Indiana University: The Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz Scholarship Fund ( iufoundation.iu.edu). At Western Michigan University: The Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz Endowed Scholarship, (mywmu.com/zegreefund) WMU Foundation, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI,49008-5403. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old Highway 37 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org.

Tributes

Stephen Zegree

May 5, 1953 - March 7, 2015