Brandon Stewart and Brett Stewart were raised in Fountain Valley, California in Orange County. They grew up in a musical family that valued music education. Their parents instilled in them a concentrated work ethic that was paramount in developing their talents. Beginning at a young age, they studied piano competitively. In high school, they sang in the choirs at Fountain Valley High School where they both served as student directors. After serving full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brett and Brandon studied at Brigham Young University where they majored in piano performance. They also sang with and accompanied the BYU Concert Choir. Following their BYU experience, they continued to pursue advanced degrees in music.
BRETT STEWART, Director B.M. Brigham Young University Piano Performance M.M. California State University, Long Beach Choral Conducting D.M.A. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Choral Conducting (ABD) Brett Stewart is a conductor, composer, pianist, and vocalist. He is a husband and the father of five young children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and currently conducts the OCMCO and EVMCO choirs and orchestras. Brett was privileged to learn from many mentors during his schooling. His major choral teachers include Earl Rivers and Stephen Coker at CCM; Jonathan Talberg at CSULB; Mack Wilberg, Ronald Staheli, and Rosalind Hall at BYU; William Hall at Chapman University; and Ted Reid at Fountain Valley High School. His piano teachers include Jeffrey Shumway and Irene Peery-Fox at BYU; Joseph Matthews at Chapman University; and Susan Bana in Orange, CA. His voice teachers include Randall Umstead at CCM, and Clayne Robison at BYU. In addition, Brett had the opportunity to study with a variety of conductors at CCM, including choral conductor Dale Warland and instrumental conductors Mark Gibson and Ulrich Nicolai. His cognate studies in composition at CCM were with Shawn Okpebholo. While attending CCM Brett conducted the University of Cincinnati Men’s Chorus and co-conducted the CCM Chamber Singers. Prior to attending CCM he taught choir at Fountain Valley High School in Southern California for three years. In 2005, his choir took first place in the Golden State South choral competition. Brett also taught high school and middle school choirs at Meridian School in Provo, Utah from 2001-2002. That same year he was the assistant director and accompanist of the BYU Men's Chorus and Concert Choir under the direction of Rosalind Hall. Brett was an accompanist and assistant director for the Southern California Children’s Chorus under the direction of Lori Loftus from 1999-2000. He has also served in music callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for fifteen years. In addition to conducting, Brett enjoys singing, composing, and teaching piano. He currently resides in Fountain Valley, California with his wife Mindy and their children Brooke, Landon, Chelsea, Clark, and Lilly. |
BRANDON STEWART, Director B.M. Brigham Young University Piano Performance M.M. The Juilliard School Piano Performance D.M.A. Arizona State University Piano Performance (in progress) Brandon Stewart is a pianist, vocalist, conductor, husband, and father of two children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and currently conducts the EVMCO and OCMCO choirs and orchestra. Brandon has enjoyed extensive studies in a variety of musical fields throughout his schooling. His major piano teachers include Jerome Lowenthal at Juilliard; Irene Peery-Fox at BYU; and Susan Bana in Orange, CA. He studied chamber music with Stephen Clapp at Julliard, and vocal performance with Clayne Robison at BYU. His choral mentors include Judith Clurman at Julliard; Rosalind Hall at BYU; and Ted Reid at Fountain Valley High School. Additional studies include piano master classes with Menahem Pressler, Angela Chang, and Boris Berman, and choral performances and workshops under the direction of Craig Jessop, Ronald Staheli, Rodney Eichenberger, and Anton Armstrong. Brandon’s zeal for performing has led to success in many piano competitions. Most recently he was a finalist in the 2008 Bosendorfer International Piano Competition. In 2005, as a student of Irene Peery-Fox, Brandon was awarded first-prize at the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Steinway Piano Competition, taking home a new Steinway grand piano. Shortly thereafter he was invited to perform as a soloist with the Utah Symphony and the Utah Valley Symphony. In 2001, he won the BYU Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to college, as a student of Susan Bana, Brandon was a winner in the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition, and was a prizewinner in various piano competitions including the International Young Artist Peninsula Piano Competition and the Los Angeles Liszt Competition. In 2000, he was named Young Artist Guild Winner by the Music Teacher’s Association of California. Brandon has a passion for teaching music, including piano and voice. He is the founder and instructor of the American Music Conservatory in Gilbert, Arizona, where he resides with his wife Heather and their children, Ashley and Dallin. |
