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It described instances of insensitive, racist behavior by fellow faculty and charged that he and his department were disrespected at the classically-oriented institution. Thomas was not willing to be quoted last fall, but a letter outlining his grievances that his attorney submitted to Peabody administration was circulated by his supporters. Recent Troublesīy bringing in Jones, who is black, Peabody appeared to be trying to move past the controversy that stemmed from Thomas’ departure. The new faculty members will teach private lessons, coach ensembles, and teach jazz department courses at Peabody beginning in the Fall 2018 semester. The area jazz community, meanwhile, had nothing but praise and congratulations for the incoming profs: “The Peabody Conservatory continues to reinvigorate its Jazz program, inspired by the great tradition of jazz in Baltimore and consistent with the Conservatory’s innovative approach to 21 st-century training in the arts,” the school announced in a release. Together with the new Jazz Studies chairman – acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones, whose appointment was announced in January – the line-up represents a reboot for this part of the Peabody Institute, since 1977 an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University. This coming fall, three new faculty members – all with local Baltimore roots – will begin teaching at the school: bassist Kristopher Funn, saxophonist Tim Green, and vibraphone specialist Warren Wolf. Last fall, when internationally-renowned saxophonist Gary Thomas “resigned” as the head of Jazz Studies at the Peabody Conservatory, as The Brew reported, his departure shined a light on the jazz program’s dearth of black faculty, declining enrollment and other signs of trouble.