Steven MacGregor Demorest (1959-2019)

Abstract

Steven Demorest, as both a scholar and a singer, had a voice that was strong and resonant. Steve’s passion for singing grew as an undergraduate in the Luther College choirs under the inspiring direction of Weston Noble, as a graduate student at Westminster Choir College, and through his doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin, where he encountered the choral artistry of Robert Fountain. His value for and pursuit of rigorous research and musical accomplishment—pairing the two while maintaining the integrity of each—characterized his contribution to the fields of choral music, music education, and music psychology. Rather than viewing musical excellence as exclusive, Steve saw musical achievement as something everyone could and should experience. He also believed that those responsible for guiding such experiences should be skilled as musicians and as teachers. Through a career that began at the University of North Texas, then at the University of Washington, and finally at Northwestern University, Steve worked tirelessly to bring about the best in music-making …