James Russell Brown has retired from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, where he taught organ and harpsichord and served as coordinator of graduate studies and undergraduate advising for the School of Music. He has also retired from the Music Institute of Chicago, one of the largest community schools in the country, where he had served as vice president and also taught organ and harpsichord. Under his leadership, the 1914 Ernest M. Skinner Company organ at the Music Institute received a complete historic restoration under the auspices of Jeff Weiler of Chicago.
Brown continues as director of music and organist for St. Giles Episcopal Church, Northbrook, Illinois, home of 1993 Hellmuth Wolff et Associés Opus 37. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and New England Conservatory, his principal teachers were David Boe and Yuko Hayashi, organ, and William Porter and Lenora McCroskey, harpsichord. He has performed at Washington National Cathedral, Harvard University, Methuen Memorial Music Hall, the University of Connecticut, the University of Vermont, Stetson University, Canterbury Cathedral, and Loyola University and Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago.
