Mr. DEA
Interim Orchestra Director
Norman Dea retired in June 2018 from the Acalanes Union High School District after a distinguished 35-year teaching career. Prior to his retirement, he served for ten years as Director of Instrumental Music at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, and served in a similar capacity for twenty-five years at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek. His Las Lomas and Acalanes performing ensembles held a reputation for musical excellence of the highest caliber and had consistently received Unanimous Superior Ratings and Gold Awards at music festivals throughout California and abroad. He currently serves as a Lecturer at California State University East Bay where he is a field supervisor for student teacher candidates in music education.
Mr. Dea has led concert tours throughout California, Hawaii, Spain, Germany, and Austria, performing at historic locations in Barcelona, Peniscola, Valencia, Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. His groups have also appeared as showcase ensembles at the CMEA State Conferences and the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) All-State Conventions. Well versed in the wind band and orchestral repertoire, Mr. Dea is highly regarded as an educator, adjudicator, clinician, and music education consultant. He is also a sought-after guest conductor of district, county, regional, and state honor ensembles in the Western United States. He has presented sessions at local and state conferences, including CMEA Bay Section, CMEA Central Section, CASMEC and the HMEA Hawaii Music Educators Association State Conference held at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Mr. Dea is a recipient of the CASMEC Medal of Honor, Cazadero Honoree Award (Honoring Service and Contributions to Cazadero Music Camp), Rose Award (Acalanes High School Outstanding Teacher-of-the-Year), National Band Association Citation of Excellence, CMEA President’s Award (Honoring Extraordinary Accomplishments in Music Education), CBDA Distinguished Service Award, CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Music Educator of the Year, CMEA State Don Schmeer-Byron Hoyt Outstanding Band Educator of the Year, Acalanes Union High School District Teacher-of-the-Year, Gilbert T. Freitas Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education, and was inducted into John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. He was also honored by SBO Magazine in their 13th Annual “50 Directors Who Make A Difference.” Mr. Dea has been awarded Honorary Commendations from the State Legislature in California and from the City of Walnut Creek.
A tireless advocate of music education in our schools, Mr. Dea has served as President of CBDA-California Band Directors Association. He has served with distinction as President of CMEA-California Music Educators Association and is a Past President of CMEA Bay Section. He has also recently completed his term as Administrative Advisor to CODA-California Orchestra Directors Association. He is the Founder of the Contra Costa County High School Honor Band and serves on the Advisory Board of Cazadero Music Camp. He is an appointed member of the Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee and the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Laureate Committee. He is also an appointed member of the NAfME Council for Band Education as the Western Division Representative.
Mr. Dea is a product of the San Francisco Unified School District and is a proud 1981 graduate of San Francisco State University. He is very familiar with the renowned Saratoga High School Instrumental Music Program and their outstanding faculty, and is proud to be part of the Saratoga music family for the Fall 2020 semester!
Mr. Dea has led concert tours throughout California, Hawaii, Spain, Germany, and Austria, performing at historic locations in Barcelona, Peniscola, Valencia, Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna. His groups have also appeared as showcase ensembles at the CMEA State Conferences and the California Band Directors Association (CBDA) All-State Conventions. Well versed in the wind band and orchestral repertoire, Mr. Dea is highly regarded as an educator, adjudicator, clinician, and music education consultant. He is also a sought-after guest conductor of district, county, regional, and state honor ensembles in the Western United States. He has presented sessions at local and state conferences, including CMEA Bay Section, CMEA Central Section, CASMEC and the HMEA Hawaii Music Educators Association State Conference held at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Mr. Dea is a recipient of the CASMEC Medal of Honor, Cazadero Honoree Award (Honoring Service and Contributions to Cazadero Music Camp), Rose Award (Acalanes High School Outstanding Teacher-of-the-Year), National Band Association Citation of Excellence, CMEA President’s Award (Honoring Extraordinary Accomplishments in Music Education), CBDA Distinguished Service Award, CMEA Bay Section Outstanding Music Educator of the Year, CMEA State Don Schmeer-Byron Hoyt Outstanding Band Educator of the Year, Acalanes Union High School District Teacher-of-the-Year, Gilbert T. Freitas Memorial Award for Excellence in Music Education, and was inducted into John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. He was also honored by SBO Magazine in their 13th Annual “50 Directors Who Make A Difference.” Mr. Dea has been awarded Honorary Commendations from the State Legislature in California and from the City of Walnut Creek.
A tireless advocate of music education in our schools, Mr. Dea has served as President of CBDA-California Band Directors Association. He has served with distinction as President of CMEA-California Music Educators Association and is a Past President of CMEA Bay Section. He has also recently completed his term as Administrative Advisor to CODA-California Orchestra Directors Association. He is the Founder of the Contra Costa County High School Honor Band and serves on the Advisory Board of Cazadero Music Camp. He is an appointed member of the Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee and the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Laureate Committee. He is also an appointed member of the NAfME Council for Band Education as the Western Division Representative.
Mr. Dea is a product of the San Francisco Unified School District and is a proud 1981 graduate of San Francisco State University. He is very familiar with the renowned Saratoga High School Instrumental Music Program and their outstanding faculty, and is proud to be part of the Saratoga music family for the Fall 2020 semester!
