Kurt R. Dietrich

Music

Kurt R. Dietrich taught in the Department of Music for 39 years, retiring in 2019 as a professor of music and the Barbara Baldwin De Frees Chair in the Performing Arts, named after the 1930 Ripon College graduate and benefactress.

Dietrich was born Aug. 27, 1951, and grew up in southwestern Virginia. He graduated from Lawrence University, received his master’s degree from Northwestern University and his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

After joining Ripon College in 1980, he directed the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, taught brass instruments and a variety of courses, and coordinated performances for the Chamber Music and Jazz at Ripon Series for almost 40 years.

An active trombonist throughout his life, he performed with Matrix, an Appleton-based jazz fusion group that performed at the Monterey and Newport jazz festivals in the 1970s, and released five recordings with the ensemble.

He also has written several books about music, including “Duke’s ’Bones: Ellington’s Great Trombonists”; “Jazz ’Bones: The World of Jazz Trombone”; “Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Profiles from the Heartland”; and “Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau,” about the 1962 Ripon College graduate.

His teaching and service awards include the May Bumby Severy, Class of 1908, Award and the James Underkofler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching from Ripon College; as well as the Distinguished Service Award in 2007 from the International Association for Jazz Education, Wisconsin Unit.

He feels it is worthwhile to expose students to fine art in all its forms. “Music or art that was created last night, or 400 years ago, can make a difference in people’s lives today,” he said. “So whatever I can do to expose students to as much fine art as possible is what teaching has been all about for me.”