BRIAN MCKEE

PROGRAM DIRECTOR, YOSAL ARTIST

Originally from San Carlos, California, Dr. Brian McKee serves as Program Director for YOSAL (Youth Orchestra Salinas). He most recently comes from Denton, Texas, where he served as Academic Counselor for Graduate Studies at the University of North Texas College of Music and was a teacher and performer around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. He maintains an active performing career and is Principal Bassoonist of the Monroe Symphony Orchestra in Louisiana, and plays bassoon and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra in Dallas, Texas. He has performed in a variety of ensembles in Texas, Florida, and Arizona, including the McKinney Philharmonic and Richardson Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony, Arizona Pro Arte Ensemble, and the Verde Valley Sinfonietta. Additionally, Dr. McKee frequently plays chamber music with his wife, violinist Diana Ramírez Rosales, and their duo can be found performing at many community events around the Salinas Valley. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Beta Beta Chapter.

In addition to his work with YOSAL, his recent teaching engagements include masterclasses and guest artist appearances at Festival de Música Orquestal (FESMO) in Mexico, University of Texas at Arlington, Bocal Majority Double Reed Camp, and Centro Nacional de la Música (Costa Rica). Other recent music festival appearances include the National Music Festival in Chestertown, Maryland, Hot Springs Music Festival in Arkansas, and the Talis Festival and Academy in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. He can be heard on the Grammy-winning album American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom (BFM Jazz, Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album - 2019) by John Daversa. He is also heard on An Open Book: 25 Preludes for Piano and Orchestra by Jorge Mejia (Sony Music Latin, 2018 Latin Grammy Nominee), as well as One for All, an album recorded by the Barcelona Clarinet Players and the Lone Star Wind Orchestra (GIA Publications, 2019). He holds performance degrees from the University of Miami (D.M.A.), Arizona State University (M.M.), and University of Oregon (B.M.), and studied bassoon with Gabriel Beavers, Albie Micklich, and Steve Vacchi.

His doctoral essay, "A Pedagogical Exploration of Selected Art Songs by Franz Schubert Transcribed for Bassoon" explores his transcription process of four art songs taken from Franz Schubert’s song cycle, Die Schöne Müllerin, and notes musical similarities paralleling vocal performance and lyrical bassoon playing characteristics.

Aside from music, he enjoys spending time in California’s breathtaking great outdoors, traveling, cooking, and photography, and can be found documenting many of his new adventures in pictures.