An Ode to Prof. Joan Epstein
For 42 years, Joan has gone above and beyond in her work as an Eckerd College music professor. She teaches, organizes, coaches, encourages, and inspires all those who take the time to pay attention to the gems she has to share. She's always ready to share her wide breadth of knowledge related to world music, literature, multicultural humanities, and history with her students and colleagues.
To commemorate her transition into the next chapter of her life, the following are tributes and fond memories shared by just a few of the many lives she's touched as an Eckerd professor.
One of my fondest memories with Joan was at Smith College in 1994 at her 20th college reunion. David Irwin and I were there to perform “Salamander Songs”, one of Joan’s many compositions. David stayed with friends in the area and Joan and I stayed in the dorm! It was such a fun time!
-Barbara Prescot
PROF. JOAN EPSTEIN
I first met Joan in the early 2000’s when I was the Managing Director of the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. She came into my office to inquire about using the theater for a Winter music festival that she was producing through Eckerd College. (I had never heard of Eckerd until that day!) I was immediately impressed with her thorough music knowledge and attention to detail in planning her event.
Nearly a decade later, our paths crossed again when I began working at the college. This is when I really began to realize and admire Joan’s talents as a teacher and mentor. She always knew a great deal about each student in her class and the students in music classes in general. She was also great at coaching me through my increasing responsibilities at the college and is primarily responsible for creating my present position which has afforded me countless opportunities for career growth and development.
I have witnessed her creation of wonderful concerts, putting together programs with some of the most challenging assortment of instruments. She was always working late on arrangements tailored for whatever mixed ensemble she encountered. Beyond music, Joan knows so much about so many things, and truly is a shining example of a liberal arts professor.
I am honored to present her music this semester in recital and with the Eckerd College Choir.
We had a great time in Spain on a choir tour and also in Massachusetts with the Western Wind Singing Workshop. I will miss her as a colleague, but I know I will see her in the audience at many of my performances, she has always supported her colleagues' concerts both on campus and beyond.
Joan, I wish you the best for retirement! I know you will continue to sing and compose and I am sure new things will take your interest and time as well. Congratulations on a truly magnificent career in both length and breadth.
-Brent Douglas
1/27/2023
I first met Joan in the early 2000’s when I was the Managing Director of the Palladium Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. She came into my office to inquire about using the theater for a Winter music festival that she was producing through Eckerd College. (I had never heard of Eckerd until that day!) I was immediately impressed with her thorough music knowledge and attention to detail in planning her event.
Nearly a decade later, our paths crossed again when I began working at the college. This is when I really began to realize and admire Joan’s talents as a teacher and mentor. She always knew a great deal about each student in her class and the students in music classes in general. She was also great at coaching me through my increasing responsibilities at the college and is primarily responsible for creating my present position which has afforded me countless opportunities for career growth and development.
I have witnessed her creation of wonderful concerts, putting together programs with some of the most challenging assortment of instruments. She was always working late on arrangements tailored for whatever mixed ensemble she encountered. Beyond music, Joan knows so much about so many things, and truly is a shining example of a liberal arts professor.
I am honored to present her music this semester in recital and with the Eckerd College Choir.
We had a great time in Spain on a choir tour and also in Massachusetts with the Western Wind Singing Workshop. I will miss her as a colleague, but I know I will see her in the audience at many of my performances, she has always supported her colleagues' concerts both on campus and beyond.
Joan, I wish you the best for retirement! I know you will continue to sing and compose and I am sure new things will take your interest and time as well. Congratulations on a truly magnificent career in both length and breadth.
-Brent Douglas
1/27/2023