Neal Finn
Dr. Neal Finn holds a Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado as well as Master of Arts and Batchelor of Music from California State University at Los Angeles. He has been active in jazz education since 1984, having taught jazz studies at Santa Ana, Fresno and Cabrillo Community Colleges in California, University of Arizona in Tucson, California State University at Long Beach and Fayetteville State University, where he has recently retired after twenty years of service.
His professional credits include arranging for jazz artists such as Manhattan Transfer, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Eric Marienthal, Bobby Shew, Bill Watrous and Nick Brignola. Sierra Music Publications, Walrus Music Publications of California and UNC Jazz Press of Colorado currently publish his jazz compositions.
In addition to directing jazz ensembles at Fayetteville State University, Dr. Finn directs the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble of professional musicians associated with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Dr. Finn became involved in re-establishing the Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra a regionally based ensemble of jazz educators and enthusiasts that performs at functions through out the city.