Dean McNeill

Trumpet player/composer Dean McNeill is Head of the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music where he teaches jazz and classical performance courses. Dean has received the USASK Department of Music’s Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, USASK Teaching Excellence Award, Saskatchewan Jazz Festival’s Special Recognition Award, Saskatchewan Choral Federation’s Outstanding Administrator’s Award, Downbeat Magazine arranger’s award, and, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan). Dean has been nominated for a SK Arts Arts and Learning award and he was a member of the Saskatoon Symphony for 23 years. Dean is currently Artistic Director of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra. He has been involved in the creation of over 16 CDs most notably six USASK Jazz Ensemble ‘Bumper Crop’ CDs (as conductor), the Western Canadian Music Awards-nominated CDs The Saskatchewan Suite: The Story of Us (performer) and The Complete Rebirth Of The Cool (performer). In 2012 Dean was soloist on the Edmonton Winds CD project O Music that won a Western Canadian Music Award.

Dean has composed and arranged music for symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, large and small brass ensembles, jazz combo, and large jazz ensemble. Crediting much of his success to diligence and strong musical role models, Dean is honored to have shared the professional concert stage with the likes of Jon Ballantyne, Tommy Banks, David Braid, Phil Dwyer, Hugh Fraser, Mark Fewer, Guy Few, Wycliffe Gordon, Kelly Jefferson, Ingrid Jensen, Michael Kaeshammer, Alastair Kay, Bob Mintzer, PJ Perry, Maria Schneider, Denzal Sinclaire, and Brad Turner among others.

Instruments played: Bb/A Pic YTR 9830, Bb trumpet YTR 8335RGS, C trumpet YTR 8445G, Bb Cornet YCR 731, Bb Flugel YFH8310ZG