PRESS RELEASE: 4 August 2026
The Frances Clark Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Eden Esters Brown as its next Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Brown is an experienced educator and researcher specializing in culturally responsive piano pedagogy. Her contributions to the field have centered on expanding access and engagement in underrepresented communities through student-centered approaches that honor cultural identity and engagement. “I am honored to join The Frances Clark Center, an organization whose commitment to excellence in piano pedagogy and expanding access to piano study so closely reflects my own work and values. I look forward to supporting teachers and colleagues as they create diverse pathways for engagement in piano study that help more people experience the joy, human connection, and lifelong impact of making music at the piano,” said Brown about this new appointment.
Dr. Leah Claiborne, who has led in this role since 2021, will remain at the Center as a senior program advisor. Throughout her tenure, Claiborne’s contributions were pivotal in creating and maintaining safe spaces for all members of the piano teaching community. She led two online courses for the Center: Unsung Heroes: 20 Pieces by Black Composers to Include in Your Studio Now and Piano Teaching through the Lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The latter course brought together over thirty contributors from across the country and led to the creation of a cohort of educators who wanted to deepen their work. Dr. Claiborne then directed the launching of the Community Impact Grant Initiative, which has created new momentum to amplify and support the impactful work of piano educators across the country. Claiborne shared, “Serving as the Director of DEI at The Frances Clark Center gave me the space to show up as my authentic self while launching programs that expanded access and amplified diverse voices through piano music. Together, we have cultivated an incredible, vibrant community, and I am confident that this vital work will only continue to grow.”
The Center extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Claiborne for her dedicated and groundbreaking service and leadership in advancing transformative initiatives. We are grateful that she will continue with the Center and provide a smooth transition. Dr. Jennifer Snow, Frances Clark Center President and CEO, stated “We welcome Dr. Eden Brown to the Center in this critical role. Her scholarship, educational experience, and passion for advancing the profession will build in effective and positive ways on the work that has been done so far. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Claiborne for her outstanding contributions to the Center and the full profession. We are honored that she will be continuing as a senior program advisor supporting the ongoing work of the Center.”