Composer will lead UIC College of Architecture, Design, the Arts
Steve Everett (click on image for larger file size)
Steve Everett, professor of music and assistant provost for academic affairs at Emory University, has been named dean of the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago, pending approval later this month by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
The college includes the School of Architecture, School of Design, School of Art & Art History, School of Theatre & Music, Gallery 400 and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.
Everett is a composer and conductor whose research and teaching interests include electronic music, cross-cultural influences in music, and the philosophy of technology in art. He began working with technology in music as an undergraduate at Florida State University during the 1970s.
He directs Emory’s Music/Audio Research Center, which includes laboratories for experimentation in composition, audiovisual design, interactive performance and new media.
“Steve is a uniquely talented artist and administrator. His enthusiasm for and synchrony with the engaged mission of the campus and college is intrinsic, and will enhance the activities of both,” said Lon Kaufman, UIC provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “He represents a wonderful addition to our leadership team, and we are proud to have him join the UIC family.”
Everett says he was drawn to UIC for opportunities in cross-disciplinary research.
“You don’t find many places with these four schools under one academic unit. Much of my life has been working with multimedia — experimental music, dance, theatre and opera. I think of the arts as a broad means of human expression, how we create physical, visual and aural spaces and relate to them to create community,” Everett said.
“The university is set up with all the requisite ingredients to be one of the top schools in the country for urban interdisciplinary research, and it’s embedded in one of the most interesting cities in the world.”
As assistant provost, Everett directs Emory’s Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, which presents teaching and learning workshops, supports research and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty. He was president of Emory’s faculty senate and chair of the music department.
Everett has taught as a visiting professor of composition at Princeton University and a guest composer at the Eastman School of Music, Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris, Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve in Switzerland, Rotterdam Conservatory of Music and Utrecht School of the Arts. Before joining Emory in 1991, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Kennesaw State University in Georgia and Ohio Northern University.
He has received composition awards from the Rockefeller Foundation, Asian Cultural Council, Chamber Music America, American Composers Forum, Center of Chemical Evolution at Georgia Tech and International Trumpet Guild. His works have been performed at numerous new music festivals, including the Spark Festival of Electronic Arts, International Society of Music Information Retrieval, Resonances Arts Festival-Paris and New York Electroacoustic Music Festival.
Recent compositions by Everett are available online.
Everett holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned master’s degrees in trumpet performance and music theory and a bachelor’s degree in music history and literature from Florida State University.
