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John V. Brown, a professor of music , became vice provost for the arts in 2020.

As vice provost for the arts, Brown works closely with Duke arts departments, Duke Performances and the Nasher Museum of Art to expand and coordinate arts programming on campus. He also oversees the Visiting Artist in Residence program and organizes the annual Duke Arts Festival. Brown works with the American Dance Festival and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival to build strong arts collaborations between Duke and the local community.

He has taught at Duke University since 2001, and also serves the Director of the Jazz Program and Professor of the Practice of Music. He has also been a faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC Central University, NC State University and Guilford College. In addition to teaching and performing, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program and is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild.

Brown has performed for President & Mrs. Barack Obama, and at major venues and festivals in the United States and abroad with artists like Wynton, Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Diahann Carroll, Rosemary Clooney, Cedar Walton, and Nicholas Payton. He boasts a Grammy® Nomination for his performance and co-writing on Nnenna Freelon's 1995 Concord release, "Shaking Free." Equally gifted in classical music, John has performed as a substitute with the North Carolina Symphony since 1992, and performs with the Opera Company of North Carolina and the Carolina Ballet. John’s extensive performance experience includes feature films, television movies, theater, and recordings.