Welcome, Bruce Pearson!

What can you say about a man who has composed hundreds of pieces for beginning band students—from one called “Bad Hair Day” to another entitled “Greasy Flat Blues?” Obviously, he has a sense of humor. He’s taught at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels for more than 30 years and he chose music education because he loves kids and he loves music.

This talented man is none other than Bruce Pearson, SBC’s interim orchestra director since September. While Bruce spends most of the month of November working as a guest clinician and conductor in Canada, Scotland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, we thought we'd tell you a bit more about him.

In addition to his current travels, Bruce has led clinics in all 50 states and has conducted many All-State and Honor Bands. He has guest lectured at over 75 colleges and universities and was honored as Minnesota’s “Most Outstanding in the Field of Music.” He also received the prestigious Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education.

So what brings Bruce and Dee, his wife of 43 years, to Arizona? While he admits to enjoying a respite from the harsh Minnesota winters, Bruce says that SBC and its wonderful teaching and local friends are their primary reason for wintering here for the past 5 years.

A native Minnesotan, Bruce followed the footsteps of many other great hockey players and attended St. Cloud State University on a hockey scholarship. “If I would have relied on my hockey skills to make a living,” Bruce admits, “I would be on welfare! I was too slow and skated too long in one place.” Thankfully, Bruce had his musical talent to fall back on and he played saxophone, flute and clarinet professionally.

A resident of Fountain Hills, Bruce and Dee have three children (all married and walking with the Lord), eight grandchildren and one more due in February. Most of his family lives within one hour of his Minnesota house and Bruce calls that the best part of living in the Midwest for the other part of the year.

This servant leader has stepped into the SBC Worship Arts family during a critical time of transition and his love for the Lord and dedication to music are apparent. “I enjoy conducting more than playing.” Bruce says. “It allows me to take the gifts of many and to mold them, refine them, place them in balance so that the end result is greater than the summer of the parts. I think that that is how the body of Christ is supposed to work.”

You can read more about Bruce at his website: www.brucepearsonmusic.com