About:

Minnesota native Kevin Brown began playing the double bass at age 3. He has since gone on to perform with esteemed ensembles across the United States and Europe, in a burgeoning career that has led him back home to the Midwest as principal bassist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and, beginning in August 2017, newly appointed Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the Michigan State University College of Music. 

Brown began his collegiate studies with Peter Lloyd at the University of Minnesota, but ultimately completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rice University as a student of renowned pedagogue Paul Ellison. Upon completing his degrees he went on to work with David Moore at the University of Southern California before joining the DSO in 2014. 

While a student, Brown performed extensively with the Houston Symphony, and joined them on tours to New York and Moscow. In 2009 he won the International Society of Bassists Orchestral Competition, which earned him a week in the bass section of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and in 2011 he was selected to give a solo performance at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage as part of their Conservatory Project. Before his appointment to the DSO, Kevin also appeared as Guest Principal Bass of the Atlanta Symphony.

Beyond orchestral performance, Brown is an active soloist and chamber musician. He is a member of the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and performs regularly in the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.  He is also a frequent recitalist, and gave his solo concerto debut with the DSO in 2015. A keen interest in Baroque music led him to pursue study of historical performance practice at the Accademia di Musica Antica in Brunico, Italy. He also studied at the International Summer School of Early Music in Valitice, Czech Republic, and with private tutors in Vienna, Austria.

As an educator, Brown has taught masterclasses as at the Colburn School, Rice University, the University of Southern California, Texas Christian University, and the 2016 Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) Conference. He has coached numerous ensembles at programs such as the Houston Youth Symphonies, Troy High School String Camp, Farmington Day for Strings, Michigan Bass Bash, and East Michigan BassFest. Brown also has presented lectures at the 2016 SAA Conference, and the 2015 International Society of Bassists Convention.