Dan Austin has been teaching instrumental music for 24 years, and is currently the Band/Orchestra Director and Instrumental Music Teacher at GCVI in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In 2022, Dan was awarded the I. Keith Mann Outstanding Band Directors Award by Musicfest Canada and the National Arts Centre, and in 2020 he was named the inaugural winner of the Beckwith Award by the Canadian Music Centre.

A graduate of York University’s Jazz Music Program, Dan has developed and built strong music programs at both the elementary and secondary levels at Twin Lakes Secondary School (SCDSB), Glenhaven Senior Public School (PDSB), Mitchell Woods Public School and GCVI (UGDSB). Dan 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. He has also been a guest lecturer in music education classes at The University of Toronto, McMaster University, and York University. Dan has also directed the concert band at Camp IMC, as well as submitting lessons and running workshops for Bandology.

New to the composing world, Dan’s music is designed to be engaging and playable for student groups at all levels of development. He has recently had the honour of doing writing workshops and mentoring with composers; Kevin Day, Kenley Kristofferson, Matt Neufeld and Ryan Meeboer.

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 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, Education Coordinator for the International award winning Ontario Youth A Cappella Chorus and is currently the Western Ontario Representative and Membership Director for the Ontario Band Association. Dan is a member of the Voice Unlimited A Cappella Chorus, and released his first solo jazz album as a bass player in 2017.