Fred Sturm

Who was Fred Sturm?

Frederick I. Sturm was a jazz composer, arranger, and teacher.

Sturm studied at Lawrence University, the University of North Texas College of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. He played trombone and performed with the jazz nonet Matrix from 1974 to 1977. He served as Director of Jazz Studies at Lawrence University from 1977 to 1991, then joined the Eastman School of Music faculty as professor of jazz composition/arranging, conductor of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra, and chair of the Eastman Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Department. In 2002, he returned home to Wisconsin to direct the Lawrence University Jazz and Improvisational Music Department and hold the Kimberly-Clark Endowed Professorship in Music.

Sturm resides in DePere, Wisconsin with Susan, his wife for over 30 years. His son Ike Sturm is a New York City bassist, composer, educator, and Assistant to the Director of Music for the Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan. Daughter Madeline Sturm is a New York based artist and musician.