Paul Joseph Burgett (1946–2018) was a distinguished alumnus of the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. His doctoral dissertation explored the aesthetics of African American music, a subject that remained central to his work as an educator and scholar. Burgett held numerous key roles at the University of Rochester, including Vice President, General Secretary, and Senior Advisor to the President. As a faculty member in the music department, he taught courses such as "History of Jazz" and "Music of African Americans," while also serving as an undergraduate advisor and mentor to several student organizations. He championed the Gateways Music Festival, a multiday series of concerts, performances, and other events designed to provide classical musicians of African descent a performance showcase of their own. The biennial festival was brought by an Eastman faculty member to Rochester in 1995. Burgett helped nurture and strengthen its ties to the Eastman School of Music; at the time of his death he was chair of the Gateways Board of Directors. Known for his deep care for students, his unwavering love for the university, and his advocacy for diversity, Burgett was a beloved figure in the Rochester community. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 72, leaving a lasting legacy at the University of Rochester and beyond.
Backstage Pass from the August 2018 Gateways Festival