LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Craig Brown as he is honored by the
Imani Singers of Medgar Evers College at its Annual Night of Honor on
May 4, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that individuals who
distinguish themselves in service to their faith and community merit the
highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Craig Brown as he is honored by the Imani Singers of Medgar Evers
College, the college's renowned resident choir, at its Annual Night of
Honor to be held at the college on Friday, May 4, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Each year at this Black Tie event, the Imani Singers of
Medgar Evers College honors and pays tribute to outstanding sacred music
church musicians in the Brooklyn community; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown, Minister of Music at Janes United Methodist
Church, truly merits this high honor; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown is a cum laude graduate of the Baldwin-Wallace
College Conservatory of Music where he studied Organ with Dr. Warren L.
Berryman, and conducting under Dwight Oltman and Stuart W. Raleigh; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown was the apprentice conductor for the 1982 B-W
Bach Festival, assisting in the preparation of the "Passion According to
St. Matthew," which was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C.; he was also the State and Regional winner of the National Associ-
ation of Negro Musicians' 1983 Scholarship in Organ; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown began the study of piano and organ with David
Fontaine, who was the longest sitting black church organist in New York
City at that time; Mr. Fontaine was the Organist-Choirmaster at the
Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church from 1942 through 1992,
retiring with 50 years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown was the Assistant Organist-Director of Music at
the Mother A.M.E. Zion Church from 1984 to 1994 under the late Dr. Solo-
mon Herriott, Jr., assisting in the preparation of many musical events
there, including the Verdi Requiem, Widor Mass in Minor, Gounod Messe
Solenelle, and the Annual "Festival of Spirituals"; and
WHEREAS, While at Mother Zion, Craig Brown studied Organ under Dr.
Herriott, who studied Organ with the late Virgil Fox, and credits Dr.
Herriott with being the most influential church musician in his life;
and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown has been the Organist-Director of Music at the
Janes United Methodist Church from 1995 to the present; under his
distinguished leadership, the Chancel Choir has presented many choral
works, including Schubert's Lord Nelson Mass and Mass in G Major, Robert
Ray's Gospel Mass, Haydn's "The Creation," John Stainer's "The Crucifix-
ion," Leon Robert's Mass of St. Martin de Torres, and Glenn Burleigh's
Alpha Mass; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Craig Brown accompanied many noted singers over
the years and collaborated with noted church musicians Gregory Hopkins
and Ramon Reeberg in the production of Burleigh's mammoth work "Born to
Die," and also with Clinton Ingram in the performance of "Changed My
Name" by Linda Twine, and "God's Trombones" by James Weldon Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown was the second Organist in recital on the Maude
White Hardie Memorial Organ, a 52-rank Austin Pipe Organ installed at
the Janes United Methodist Church; the first recital was given by Dr.
Solomon Herriott, Jr., who was instrumental in the organ's design; and
WHEREAS, Craig Brown has distinguished himself in his profession and
in service to his faith and community and is certainly worthy of the

recognition and appreciation of this Legislative Body and the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Craig Brown as he is honored by the Imani Singers of Medgar
Evers College at its Annual Night of Honor on Friday, May 4, 2012; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Craig Brown.