Jay Dawson composer / arranger

Jay Dawson is an American arranger and composer. Dawson is a native of Nashville, Tennessee. His teaching experience includes six years in public junior high and high schools, and one year at the college level. For three years he taught summer graduate courses at VanderCook College in Chicago. Mr. Dawson was a French hornist for ten years in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra before becoming assistant conductor in 1977 for three years. During this time he also was conductor of the Nashville Youth Symphony.

Active and widely known as an arranger and composer, Mr. Dawson has written and consulted for Opryland USA, the 1982 World’s Fair (Knoxville), Memphis Blues, Valley Fever, and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Also he is currently the arranger for the McGavock High School Band. He is founder and conductor of the Tennessee Winds, a professional concert band. Mr. Dawson’s works have been published by Shawnee Press, Hal Leonard Publications, and Arrangers’ Publishing Company. He is president of Arrangers’ Publishing Company. The Arrangers’ Publishing Company (APC) is an American publisher of marching band music, concert band music and drill designs for middle school, high school and college bands.

The company originated in 1985 with the goal of providing a new approach to marching band music. In 1992, APC published its first concert band literature. Low-cost drill designs presented in an easy to use format were offered shortly thereafter. The company’s focus has been on the effectiveness of the arrangement, showcasing diverse and sometimes unlikely material, with genres ranging from hard rock and heavy metal to jazz and American patriotic music. APC produces full-length studio recordings of its music. Notable APC arrangers and composers besides Jay Dawson include Roland Barrett, Kenny Bierschenk, Scott Boerma , John Fannin, Gary P. Gilroy, Larry Kerchner, Bill Locklear, Victor Lopez, Chris McDonald, Joe Murphy, Brad Pearson, Timothy Rhea, Steve Reisteter, Jeff Simmons, Tom Wallace and Bill Wiedrich. The company is incorporated in the state of Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. Dawson and Jeff Hearington are the owners and officers of the company. Dawson is president and continues to arrange and compose music for marching and concert bands.