William Newbrough
Not many Christian colleges have a Las Vegas performer on their faculties, like William J. "Bill-John" Newbrough. In the fall of 2006, Newbrough appeared at the Empire Ballroom as part of the "The Gospel Comes to Vegas (& Doesn't Leave!)" concert series.
Playing Las Vegas is no big deal for Newbrough. A veteran performer, he has appeared at Carnegie Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House, the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., Chateau de La Gesse near Toulouse, France, and the Van Cliburn Piano Institute. Recently, Newbrough was the only American out of ten pianists worldwide chosen to perform at the prestigious Franz Liszt International Piano Masterclasses in Utrecht.
Wherever he goes, Newbrough impresses, winning awards at international and national competitions. At age 14, he became one of the youngest pianists ever to win first prize and grand prize instrumentalist at the Christian Artists' Music Seminar in the Rockies. He earned a doctorate in musical arts and a master of music degree, along with an artist diploma, from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins University), after he had received his bachelor of arts (with honors) from the University of California at Berkeley. While at Peabody, he had the distinction of winning both piano competitions hosted by the conservatory.
All this winning may go to some performer's heads, but Newbrough is no diva. He is quiet and unassuming offstage, acknowledging that his performance ability is a gift from God. Newbrough strives to use his talents to turn audience's attention to the Lord, and to serve the church. He has been a church staff pianist, written hymn arrangements, and performed at churches, colleges, missionary enrichment and training conferences, retreats, and charity/benefit concerts. He includes a great many sacred works within his active performance repertoire; his recently released CD is entitled The Sacred Tradition.
At Houghton, Newbrough gives piano studio lessons; teaches aural skills, form and analysis, and piano literature; and leads the Piano Ensemble. His academic interests and expertise are in the genre of the piano etude and obscure romantic piano literature. It's a long way from Las Vegas.
