Academics

Keith Cozart Steele is a performer, teacher, student, collaborator, volunteer, father and Quaker. He studies Afro-Brazilian percussion in Salvador, Brazil with Giba Conceição, Luiz Badaró, Rosangela Silvestre and Jose Ricardo Sousa; West African djembe in Conakry, Guinea with Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, M’Bemba Bangoura and Michael Markus; and Western Classical percussion with Gray Barrier of the University of Northern Colorado. Keith has a graduate degree in Adult/Community Education, is certified in online education, is trained/experienced in Drum Circle Facilitation and loves manual labor in the form of swinging hammers, chopping wood and making hand-drums. One of his creations and passions is directing the annual outreach collaborative concert with area community groups and public-school percussion programs entitle DRUMunity. Keith performs and records with many regional bands, but is most noted as performing in concert with Max Weinberg, Jeff Hamilton, Paul Winter, John Conlee and Louie Bellson.

A member of the Music Department teaching faculty and the director of the percussion program, Keith is involved in the 3+1 Education program and serves on the Events Committee.