The 2001-2002 school year will be Dean McElroy's 5th year as band director at Aliso Niguel High School.  He earned an Associate of Arts degree at Irvine Valley College in 1993 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education at California State University, Fullerton.  He graduated with high honors, and was accepted into Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Kappa Lambda - both professional fraternities recognizing high academic achievement.  He also earned his teaching credential from CSU Fullerton in 1997, and is currently working on his Masters in Music Education at CSU Fullerton.

        Throughout his college career, Mr. McElroy taught private trombone and euphonium lessons throughout Orange and Riverside counties.  He also worked as a brass coach at Rubidoux High School, and was a student teacher at Mission Viejo High School.  Mr. McElroy is also credentialed to teach math and science, and can be found spending his summers teaching math in summer school and teaching at Horizon High School.

        Aliso Niguel's first marching band competition under Mr. McElroy's direction resulted in a sweepstakes victory at the daytime portion of the Magnolia Field Show Tournament in 1997.  Since then, the band has grown in size and maturity, and has improved every year.  Highlights from the 2000 season include 3 sweepstakes awards, and a 4th place finish at the WSMBC championships in Stockton, CA.

        Mr. McElroy also started a competitive Spring Drumline and Colorguard.  The drumline debuted in competition in 1999, and the colorguard began competing in WSGAC in 2000.  Both groups have improved every year through the help of extraordinary coaches.  In the Spring, 2000, the drumline finished 4th at the SCPA championships, and won a silver medal at the WGI Western Regional.  The colorguard finished 4th at the WGI Riverside, Western, and Southwest Regional, and won a bronze medal at the WGASC championships.  Both groups will travel to Dayton, Ohio for the WGI National Championships in Spring, 2002 - an extraordinary achievement for only 4 years of existance!

        Mr. McElroy is also in charge of the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz band.  These non-competitive groups are extremely successful, and continually play the highest quality music in their repertoire.  Some pieces played by the wind ensemble include Suite of Old American Dances, Russian Christmas Music, and Elegy for a Young American. 

        Mr. McElroy is always seeking new ways to improve the music program.  Currently, he is seeking grants to begin a private lesson program, developing an AP music theory course that will begin Fall 2001.  Mr. McElroy's goal is for all students to understand, appreciate, and to love music of all styles.