Public Media from Michigan State University

MSU Alum, Broadway Orchestrator William Brohn Dies

William Brohn's Broadway credits include the 1975 revue 'Rodgers and Hart' and his last, 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess' in 2012.
Kurt Stepnitz

William Brohn, an MSU alumnus who went on the fame as a Tony Award-winning orchestrator, has died.

Known for hit shows like “Wicked,” “Miss Saigon” and “Mary Poppins,” Brohn won the Tony for Best Orchestrations in 1988 for “Ragtime.”

He received an honorary MSU doctorate in fine arts in 1996, and was the grand marshal of MSU’s homecoming parade in 2015.

William Brohn died at the age of 84 on May 11th.

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Scott Pohl is a general assignment news reporter and produces news features and interviews. He is also an alternate local host on NPR's "Morning Edition."