Jay 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’s works have been published by Shawnee Press, Hal Leonard Publications and Arrangers’ Publishing Company.  He is president of Arrangers’ Publishing Company.  Mr. Dawson has written and consulted for Opryland USA, the 1982 World’s Fair (Knoxville), Memphis Blues, Valley Fever, Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and is currently the arranger for the McGavock High School Band.  He is founder and conductor of the Tennessee Winds, a professional concert band.