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Brenda S. Scott

Curator, Duke University Musical Intrument Collections
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music

Prof. Neece has had an association wtih Duke since 1985, when she was a Duke String School student. She has ties that date back even further -- to the early '60s. It was at that time that both of her parents were pursuing their doctoral work at Duke. Moreover, her mother actually lived in Epworth the year before her marriage, so needless to say, Brenda feels very much at home here!

As an organologist (historian of musical instruments) with a specialization in the history of the cello, Brenda is Duke University Instrument Collections' first curator. After String School and before coming to Duke as curator in 2001, she completed her doctorate at the University of Oxford as a member of Somerville College. She carried out the bulk of her research by traveling around England (including the village of Epworth!!) and Scotland by bicycle and train, spending her working hours in museums and libraries and her evenings in a small tent.

Prof. Neece teaches Western Musical Instruments (MUS150) as well as advising independent study students working on a range of organological topics. When not teaching or curating, she plays cello as much as possible and enjoys photography, bicycle touring, climbing, kayaking, hiking, rollerblading, fencing (mainly epee), visiting whisky distilleries in Scotland, and watching silent swashbuckler films with her two cats T.S. Kitty and Caol Ila.

04 Mary Duke Biddle Music Building
(919) 660-3320
brenda.scott@duke.edu
Residence: 201 Epworth (613-1368)