Brian Pertl
Director of the Lamont School of Music
Newman Performing Arts Center, 2344 East Iliff Ave. Denver, CO 80210
Professional Biography
Brian Pertl received a BM in Trombone Performance and a BA in English from Lawrence University; an MA in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University; and pursued Ph.D. studies in Ethnomusicology at the University of Washington. He also received the Watson Fellowship which supported a year studying Australian Aboriginal didjeridu and Tibetan Buddhist sacred music.
He is an innovative arts leader, author, enthnomusicologist, teacher, improvisor, trombonist, didjeridu player, and Deep Listener. After a 16-year career at Microsoft where he led the team that selected and licensed all the music, video, and images for every Microsoft product, he became the Dean of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton Wisconsin. During his 17-year tenure at Lawrence, Brian encouraged the conservatory community to use the transformational power of culture building to create one of the top undergraduate music programs in the country. Under his leadership, the Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic recognized Lawrence as the first Deep Listening affiliate institution in the world.
Brian will assume the role of President of the College Music Society on January 1st of 2026, and is the author of the new book, Radically Responsive Music Schools: Leading Change Though Culture Building. He strives to create cultures of true belonging and wellbeing. He holds space for the rigorous artistic and intellectual work needed to become a world-changing musician. He holds space for collaboration and innovation. He holds space for transformational civic practice. He holds space for ideas to flourish, fail, and reform. He holds space for opposing ideas and discussion. He holds space for laughter, play, and possibility. He empowers individuals and communities to turn dreams into realities. He is passionate about the life-changing power of music and music education and believes that the Lamont School of Music is poised to lead the way in redefining a world class music education for the rapidly changing world of today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
He is an innovative arts leader, author, enthnomusicologist, teacher, improvisor, trombonist, didjeridu player, and Deep Listener. After a 16-year career at Microsoft where he led the team that selected and licensed all the music, video, and images for every Microsoft product, he became the Dean of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton Wisconsin. During his 17-year tenure at Lawrence, Brian encouraged the conservatory community to use the transformational power of culture building to create one of the top undergraduate music programs in the country. Under his leadership, the Center for Deep Listening at Rensselaer Polytechnic recognized Lawrence as the first Deep Listening affiliate institution in the world.
Brian will assume the role of President of the College Music Society on January 1st of 2026, and is the author of the new book, Radically Responsive Music Schools: Leading Change Though Culture Building. He strives to create cultures of true belonging and wellbeing. He holds space for the rigorous artistic and intellectual work needed to become a world-changing musician. He holds space for collaboration and innovation. He holds space for transformational civic practice. He holds space for ideas to flourish, fail, and reform. He holds space for opposing ideas and discussion. He holds space for laughter, play, and possibility. He empowers individuals and communities to turn dreams into realities. He is passionate about the life-changing power of music and music education and believes that the Lamont School of Music is poised to lead the way in redefining a world class music education for the rapidly changing world of today, tomorrow, and far into the future.
