Dean Snavely is a performer and conductor whose roots run deep in the pacific NW.  His mother often recalls when he was in second grade watching his sister’s 5th grade band concert that he stated, “That’s what I want to do when I grow up!”  A product of the Oregon public school system, Dean began his journey as a French horn player in 5th grade and happily moved to tuba when offered by his band director.  Through years of practice and private study he continued to grow as a musician learning trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, trumpet and guitar.  This passion for making music took him to Los Angeles to study tuba with Roger Bobo and Loren Marsteller.  After two years in LA, he returned to the NW to continue schooling as well as performing.  Upon returning, he stumbled upon an interesting career in the feature film industry as an electrician and gaffer.

Dean continued his education at Central Washington University, completing a degree in tuba performance and music education in 1998.  The next 13 years were spent building a thriving music program at Snoqualmie Middle School.  His bands and choirs performed throughout the region as well as around the country and internationally.   During this time, Dean also performed regularly around the NW on tuba and trombone in many ensembles including: Soundwave (The Seattle Sounders), Seattle Rock Orchestra, Exhoxo, The Jazz Police, Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, Bellevue Symphony and Brass Band NW.​  

After 13 years of teaching, Dean and his wife decided to take a leave of absence from their teaching careers and accept offers to go back to CWU as graduate teaching assistants in the music department.  Through this experience, he has had the great fortune to perform at the Jazz Educators Network conferences in both Louisville KY and Atlanta GA, conduct at the CBDNA Western regional conference in Reno, NV.  They have relocated to Henderson, NV, as Dean pursues his DMA in wind conducting under the tutelage of Thomas G. Leslie.
Dean has studied conducting under: Thomas Leslie,  Larry Gookin, Dr. Daniel Baldwin, Dr. Nikolas Caoile, Dr. Wayne Bennett, Allan MacMurray and Marlin Owen.  He has studied brass under:  Roger Bobo, Loren Marsteller, Steven Eklund, Dr. Jeffrey Snedeker, Dr. Curtis Peacock, Dr. John Neurohr,  Dr. Russel Schultz, Tom Gause, Stephen Fissel, Craig Gosnell, Jeff Uusitalo, Dick Shearer, and Charles Bolton.  He has had the pleasure of playing and singing with many great musicians, including:  Seth McFarlane, Dave Loeb, Ingrid Jensen, Wycliffe Gordon, Mike Longo, Sara Gazarek, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Doc Severinsen, Dave Barduhn, Douglas Yeo, Toby Oft, Dan Helseth, Deanna Swoboda, and Menachem Pressler.

 

Dean is the Director of Jazz Studies, Director of Guitar, and Associate Director of Bands at Foothill High School.