Mark Dahl holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Saxophone Performance and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. He also holds certification in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. He has studied conducting with Steven Squires and Dr. Ronnie Wooten and jazz pedagogy with Ron Carter.
Mark is in his 22nd year of teaching and his 17th year as Band Director and Assistant Division Chair for Fine Arts at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois. Groups under his direction have been selected to perform at the Illinois Music Education State Conference, as finalists for the Illinois Superstate Band Festival and the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Under his direction, the Lyons Township High School Jazz Ensemble has performed at the Jazz Showcase, in the Chi-Town Jazz Festival and with numerous guest artists including: Victor Goines, Bobby Watson, Roger Ingram, Marquis Hill, Reggie Thomas, Mark Colby, Victor Garcia, Geof Bradfield and Tito Carrillo.
He has guest conducted several ILMEA all district jazz groups and was guest director of the All-State Jazz Band in Rhode Island and the All-State Jazz Band in Illinois. He has been on the staff of the Birch Creek Summer Jazz Camp (2001-2009) and the Northern Illinois University Jazz Camp (2010-present). Mark has performed with Johnny Frigo, Jim Galaredo, Mark Colby, Vince Maggio, John McLean, Bob Havens, Bobby Wilson and Neal Alger.
In addition to his school responsibilities, Mark is a featured clinician for Carter’s Jazz Clinics and was a contributing author to Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz, Volume 2.
Mark lives in Brookfield, Illinois with his wife, Laura and two daughters.
Available Course
- Jazz Ensemble 1
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