Meet Josh Brown: The Johann Norstedt Scholarship for Voice Recipient

Josh Brown is a music therapy student with a focus in voice, who receieved the Johann Norstedt Scholarship for Voice. He was awarded the scholarship before he transferred to Radford University.

According to Brown, Dr. Johann Norstedt contributes a great deal to the Department of Music including making it possible to award scholarships to students such as Brown.

“Dr. Norstedt is a really kind, caring, generous man who is a very strong supporter of the arts,” said Brown.

In Brown’s spare time, he enjoys writing his own music, learning how to advance his piano and guitar skills, working every Saturday on his music therapy skills with a young man who has Cerebral Palsy, and acting as the music minister for the on-campus Catholic Campus Ministry.

1. How did you feel when you found out that you were the winner of the Johann Norstedt Scholarship?

When I found out that I was the winner of the Dr. Johann and Marilyn Norstedt Scholarship for Voice, I was shocked. I did not start singing until after high school. I was never in choir and never took voice lessons. It was just something that I loved to do. I was nervous coming into the Radford Music Program, but receiving the scholarship helped me to gain the confidence that I needed in order to be successful as a student.

2. What does winning the scholarship mean to you?

This scholarship means so much to me! I am so privileged that I was able to meet such an amazing role model as Dr. Norstedt, and to receive his scholarship can only be described as a blessing. No amount of words can describe the support that he has given me throughout my time at Radford University.

3. How has winning the scholarship benefitted you as a student?

Winning the scholarship has given me the opportunity to put my primary focus into my studies. As a college student, money is always a potential issue; but with this scholarship, I can spend extra time on studies rather than having to pick up an extra job.

4. What instrument do you play?

My primary instrument is my voice, but I also play the piano and guitar.

5. Why did you choose Radford University to pursue your interests in music?

When looking at music therapy programs, Radford University had very passionate professors and great clinical opportunities. When I visited the spring before I was going to transfer and met with Dr. Patricia Winter, I knew from her passion about music therapy that this program would be the right fit.

6. Have you always known that you wanted to pursue a major in music?

No. I have always loved music, but had a family who really wanted me to give engineering a try. I went to Virginia Tech my freshman year as a general engineering major. My sophomore year, I attended community college as an education major. One of my teachers at the community college actually introduced me to music therapy and strongly recommended it for me. When I started doing research, I immediately fell in love with the field and knew it was what I am meant to do.

7. Who or what inspires you as a music major?

As a music therapy major, my uncle has always inspired me. He is diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and is one of the greatest people I have ever met. He has always really benefited by listening to and experiencing music. I knew that I wanted to work with people with special needs because of him, and thought that music therapy would really be a valuable tool that could benefit all people who experienced it.

8. Do you have any other musical and/or artistic talents?

I enjoy writing my own music and recording it. I am always interested in learning more instruments and styles of playing. Aside from music, I always enjoyed drawing but have not had as much time for it recently.

9. What do you feel sets you apart from other music majors at RU?

I would not put myself above or below anyone. It is not something I really feel comfortable doing. However, if I am to say what makes me different, I would say a big part is my energy. I bring a positive attitude and a passion into the music department, which I hope is contagious.

10. Who would you play with if you could perform with any one person or any group in the world,?

This is such a difficult question since there are so many very talented artists. I would really like to get to perform with the Civil Wars, Bon Iver, or Fleetwood Mac.