Dean Westman - Brass Arranger

Dean Westman currently serves as the Orchestra Director for the Avon Community School Corporation in Avon, Indiana. Prior to coming to Avon, Dean spent 2 years as the Educational Director for Bands of America and Orchestra America. Prior to his work with Bands of America, Dean served for 6 years as Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Westman also Co-Conducted the award winning SFA Symphony Orchestra. Under Dean’s leadership, the SFA Marching Band was named Bands of America Houston Regional Champion in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The SFA Band placed 5th at the 2002 Bands of America Grand National Championships and 4th at the 2004 Bands of America Grand National Championships, winning both Outstanding Music Performance and the Al Castronovo Memorial Esprit de Corps award. The marching band has performed at 4 consecutive Texas UIL State Championships. Dean’s concert ensembles at SFA have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Moores Opera House, the Meyerson, and the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Mr. Westman has also held band director positions at Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas and Indian Prairie School District in Naperville, Illinois. Dean was reunited with the SFA Marching Band in the fall of 2007; where he now works as Program Coordinator along side dear friend and mentor, Ralph Hardimon

In 2002, Dean was named the Texas Young Bandmaster of the Year at the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Convention. He has taught the Tenrikyo Aimaichi Marching Band from Nagoya, Japan, which has won the All-Japan Marching Band Championship in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Mr. Westman served on the teaching staff for the 2005 Bands of America Rose Parade Honor Band of America. In 2007, Dean became the wind arranger for the award winning Winston Churchill High School Marching Band from San Antonio, Texas. He continues to present clinics throughout the United States and Japan, including presentations to the Midwest Clinic, the Texas Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Colorado Bandmaster’s Association Convention, the Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention, the DCI Judges and Instructor Clinic, and the Texas Dance Educator’s Association Convention. Dean has conducted district honor ensembles in Cobb County, Georgia and Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Dean has been an active instructor and arranger in the drum corps activity for 16 years. Westman served as Brass Caption Head for the nine-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003 and 2004. He spent 7 years as a brass arranger and instructor for the six-time Drum Corps International World Champion Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. Dean taught on the brass staff for the seven-time Drum Corps International World Champion Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and was the Brass Caption Head during the Cavaliers 1995 DCI World Championship season. Dean is honored to begin working as the brass arranger for The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2008 season and looks forward to becoming part of an organization with such a rich history.

Dean is a native of Park Ridge, Illinois and a proud alumnus of the University of Illinois. He lives in Plainfield, Indiana with his wife Adrianna and their 9-year-old daughter, Abigail.