Dean Westman
Dean Westman (Heritage Lake, IN) has proudly served students through music education for over 30 years. Dean recently retired as Performing Arts Chair and Director of Orchestras at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. He founded the Avon Orchestra program in 2007 with 38 beginners, growing the Avon Orchestra into one of the largest string programs in the United States. The Avon Orchestra currently serves over 1,000 string students taught by six full-time orchestra directors, performing in six orchestral ensembles.
Westman has worked on the design and instructional team for the six-time Bands of America Grand National Champion and 18-time Indiana State Champion Avon High School Marching Black & Gold. Prior to coming to Avon, Westman worked as the Educational Director for Music for All. He also served as Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Under Westman’s leadership, the SFA Marching Band was a two-time BOA Grand National Finalist.
Westman continues to guest conduct and present clinics throughout the United States and Japan, including presentations at The Midwest Clinic, Colorado Bandmasters Association Convention, TMEA, TBA, and DCI Judges and Instructor Clinics. Westman was inducted into the Music for All Hall of Fame in 2018 and is a proud member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu.
Westman has been an active designer, instructor, and arranger in the drum corps activity for over 35 years, working with The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, Yokohama Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Troopers. Westman is Senior Education Advisor & Designer for the three-time DCI World Champion Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio. Westman is a native of Park Ridge, Illinois, and a proud alumnus of the University of Illinois. He lives in Heritage Lake, Indiana, with his wife of 29 years Adrianna. Their daughter Abigail lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is getting married in the spring of 2027!