Dr. Don Keipp inspires young musicians at Weber State University, where he is in his 25^th as a Professor of Music, directing the percussion and jazz ensembles, the Basketball Pep Band, and also teaching jazz history and world music. A native of Colfax, Iowa, he received his B.M. from the University of Northern Iowa and M.A. and D.M.A. from the University of Iowa. Dr. Keipp is the former timpanist with the Cedar Rapids Symphony and the Rapides Symphony, and also former percussionist with the Quad Cities Symphony and the Tulsa Philharmonic. His music studies have taken him to Austria, India, Cuba, Brazil, Ireland and Ghana. Dr. Keipp is a past-president of the Utah chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and past-president of the Utah chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Don enjoys spending time with his family and for the past 15 years has enjoyed biking, skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and backpacking with his wife Kathy.

Brian Nicholson was born  in Ogden, Utah, grew up in Bountiful, and remembers the fascination of capturing his first photograph at the age of 10.  That fascination eventually turned into a career in photography. His most recent project, a compilation of documentary portraits of the people of Ogden, was published in a 12x12 inch, 328 page art book entitled, “I AM OGDEN.”  He currently works at the Deseret News and lives in Ogden with his wife, Amy and their four children, Sophie, Ian, Isaac and Katie.

Mac Stevenson has been involved in the visual arts in Ogden City for the past 48 years. He attended Weber State University on an Art Scholarship where he received his Bachelors Degree in Art Education in 1968. After teaching art for one year, Mac attended Brigham Young University where was awarded a M.A. degree in painting, drawing, and sculpting. Mac taught in the Ogden City School District for 26 years at Ben Lomond High School where he was named “Utah High School Art Teacher of the Year.” He says that after seven years of University training and twenty nine years of teaching art he now directs his energy toward teaching himself. He works in watercolor, oil, gouache, pastel and mixed media. Mac has won numerous awards for his teaching and artwork and has served the community on many boards and committees in the arts.

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Ogden City residents, Monica and I congratulate the recipients of the Mayor’s Awards in the Arts Awards. The 2009 honorees are being recognized for their accomplishments, abilities and dedication to the arts in Ogden.

Each of the awardees demonstrates a passion for art and desire to improve our quality of life. Through the use of innate talents and local resources, they have touched the lives of those around them. We applaud their accomplishments and look forward to a future filled with their continued good works.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matthew and Monica Godfrey