Dean Sorenson is Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Minnesota as well as a prolific and highly sought-after composer, arranger, trombonist, educator and clinician. He received his bachelor's degree in trombone performance from the University of Minnesota and his master's degree in jazz arranging and composition from the Eastman School of Music.
Dean's latest recording project is Colors of the Soul, a CD of original music for sextet. His most recent books include Excellence in Jazz Pedagogy as well as First Place for Jazz, a new and innovative method for beginning jazz players. He is the co-author of the Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method and Advanced Jazz Ensemble Method, an innovative and comprehensive series for middle school and high school jazz ensembles. He is also the author of Jazz Combo Session and First Jazz Performance, also under the Standard of Excellence banner. He has composed numerous pieces for concert band and jazz ensemble published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company. Dean is a contributing author to Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz, edited by Richard Miles and published by GIA. As an advocate of jazz education and the expansion of the repertoire, he continues to develop creative materials and methods to help students and teachers better understand the art form. An outstanding clinician, conductor and soloist, he is frequently featured at festivals and conventions around the country and abroad. He also maintains a full schedule of concert and recording dates as a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Dean has composed and arranged for numerous ensembles including the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Airmen of Note, the United States Air Force Band, the United States Navy Band and the Minnesota Orchestra. He is active as a commissioned composer and arranger for jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra, concert band and chamber ensembles, and he has also written several sacred choral pieces.
