UPDATE: Tributes offered for professor who kept cancer battle private

UPDATE: Zegree memorials planned at Indiana University and Western Michigan University

KALAMAZOO, MI -- Stephen Zegree, former Western Michigan University music professor and director of the vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company, died this morning at his home in Bloomington, Indiana.

Zegree, 61, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this fall. He began hospice care recently.

Zegree taught at Western Michigan University for 34 years before leaving in 2012 to join the faculty at Indiana University. While at Western, he was the WMU Bobby McFerrin Distinguished Professor of Music, he taught piano and vocal jazz, performed with the Western Jazz Quartet, and was the director of the popular vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company.

Under his direction, Gold Company won almost 50 Outstanding Performance awards from DownBeat magazine and the group performed at major jazz festivals and events such as the International Association for Jazz Education and the World Symposium on Choral Music. The group also performed with artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Janis Siegel, Kurt Elling and Jon Hendricks.

Bassist Tom Knific performed with him for more than 25 years as a member of the Western Jazz Quartet. He saw him in the fall, while visiting IU.

Knific said that during his time at Western, the two saw each other almost every day and Zegree was always up -- much the way people saw him when he was on stage directing Gold Company.

"He really put that performer's face on things. He just wouldn't let anything get him down," Knific said. "He felt like he needed to be that kind of force."

He said when he thinks about his friend and co-worker he thinks of the words "ebullient" and "effusive."

But, another word, that might come to mind, especially for former students is "demanding," Knific said.

"He was totally uncompromising in so many ways," Knific said. "He had this whole list of sayings, like, 'If you're five minutes early, you're late. It was all about preparations and professionalism.

"He was unrelenting and joyous and demanding."

Bradley Wong, director of the WMU School of Music, said one of his first experiences at Western was attending a Gold Company concert.

"I remember being amazed by the talent and the production of the show and what he got from his students," Wong said. "He pushed his students very hard but the results were tangible."

Wong also had the opportunity to share the stage with Zegree as a member of Opus 21, a new music ensemble at the school. The group played cutting edge music by the newest composers.

"He really could perform so well in both fields, all of the members of the Western Jazz Quartet were so gifted in the classical and jazz idioms," Wong said.

In addition to performing and directing, Zegree was a published author and known musical arranger. He helped start the jazz studies program at WMU and we helping to grow the IU vocal jazz program, Knific said.

"Certainly his legacy in the school of music and vocal jazz will live on," Wong said. "He was a great influence. He helped put Western's jazz program on the map."

Zegree grew up in California. He earned a bachelor's of music at Miami University, a master's of music at Indiana University and a doctorate in music at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. His professional career also included touring with John Mellencamp, playing with national tours of musicals such as "Wicked" and "Hairspray." He is the author of two books "The Complete Guide to Teaching Vocal Jazz" and "The Wow Factor: How to Create It, Inspire It & Achieve It."

He joined the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2012 as the Pam and Jack Burks Professor of Music and director of the Singing Hoosiers.

Wong said the family is planning memorials in Bloomington and Kalamazoo. Details will be forthcoming.

Linda S. Mah is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Reach her at 269-303-6567 or her at lmah@mlive.com. You can follow her on Twitter.