Professor Michael Dease is an award-winning trombonist, composer, multi- instrumentalist and educator from Augusta, GA. He was recently chosen as the winner of the 2021 DownBeat Magazine Critic’s Poll for Trombonist of the Year. Last year he was named the JazzTime’s Critics Poll as Jazz Trombonist the Year and received critical acclaim for his latest recording for Posi-Tone Records, Give It All You Got. He has been featured on 3 GRAMMY-winning recordings with Alicia Keys (2008) and Christian McBride (2011,2018).

In 2001, Dease was selected to join the inaugural class of jazz students at The Juilliard School in New York City and remained there on a full scholarship to earn both bachelor’s and master’s of music in Jazz Performance. New York City provided the opportunity for Michael to perform and tour with many highly regarded international artists who he will tell you more about today. He also had the opportunity to compose large ensemble works, leading to master class workshops and residencies around the world.

Michael’s passion outside of writing and performing music lies in education. Being self-taught until college, he strives to be the teacher and mentor that he missed early on. He is a full professor here in the College of Music where he teaches a thriving, award-winning jazz trombone studio, along with directing Octet III and teaching Advanced Improvisation III & IV. His work at MSU has been recognized with an MSU Teacher/Scholar Award, two HARP Development Grants, and he was named one of three Michigan Distinguished Professors of 2019. Mentoring of high school musicians is very important to Michael, and he is grateful to serve as Director of two respected summer jazz workshops which you will also hear more about. Michael has released 14 recordings to date and performed as sideman on over 150 recordings.