Dear Eagle Family:
It is with great sadness that I announce the loss of another treasured member of our Eagle community. NCCU was notified of the passing of Dr. Brian Horton, assistant professor in the Department of Music, and director of NCCU’s Jazz Studies program and the NCCU Jazz Ensemble, on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Dr. Horton was an accomplished composer and saxophonist who brought more than two decades of professional performance experience to his teaching of jazz arranging and saxophone. Most recently, Dr. Horton led the NCCU Jazz Ensemble to a top-three finish at the 2022 Jack Rudin Jazz Championship at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The recipient of the 2019 North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship for music composition, Dr. Horton collaborated with the who’s who of music industry giants.
During this difficult time, please know that the university has resources to assist community members who are grieving this loss. Students who would like to speak with a counselor may call the NCCU Counseling Center’s 24-hour line at 919-530-7646. Faculty and staff may utilize the ComPsych guidance resources on the university’s HR page.
Inquiries about the Jazz Studies program and the Jazz Ensemble may be directed to Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds, interim chair of the Department of Music, at [email protected].
We will inform the campus community about funeral services as those details become available. Please keep Dr. Brian Horton’s family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers.
In Truth and Service,
Johnson O. Akinleye
Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D.
Chancellor
