About Dan

Dan Austin has been teaching Instrumental and Vocal Music for 20 years, and is currently the Band Director and Instrumental Music Teacher at GCVI in Guelph. In 2020 Dan was named the inaugural winner of the prestigious Beckwith Award by the Canadian Music Centre. (https://on.cmccanada.org/ba-dan-austin/) A graduate of York University’s Jazz Music Program, Dan has taught music classes at both the elementary and secondary levels at Twin Lakes Secondary School (SCDSB), Glenhaven Senior Public School (PDSB), and Mitchell Woods Public School (UGDSB). He has presented several clinics at the annual Ontario Music Educators Association conference and is a regular contributor to the Canadian Music Educators Association Journal, Ontario Music Educators Association Journal, and the Ontario District Trillium Magazine. Dan has also been a guest lecturer in music education classes at University of Toronto, McMaster University, and York University. Dan is also the current Western Ontario Representative on the board of the Ontario Band Association.

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Outside of school, Dan keeps an active schedule as a vocal and instrumental performer with a variety of groups across Southern Ontario, as well as being a husband, and a father to two amazing children. Dan has been Treasurer for the Peel Intermediate Music Teacher’s Association, President and founder of the Upper Grand Elementary Music Teachers Association, Vice President of Youth In Harmony for the Ontario District, and Education Coordinator for the International award winning Ontario Youth A Cappella Chorus. Dan is a member of the Harbourtown Sound A Cappella Men’s Chorus (Hamilton), The After Party a cappella quartet (2019 Ontario Silver Medalists) and released his first solo jazz album as a bass player in 2017.

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