Neil Hansen is former Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Division, Professor of Music, and Director of Bands at Northwest College where he directed the Northwest College Wind Band and the Northwest Jazz Band I. He has taught at Northwest College for over thirty years. Mr. Hansen has degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Wyoming and has completed 36 hours toward a DMA in Music Education from Boston University. He has directed bands at all levels from elementary to college in both Iowa and Wyoming during his career.

Neil was selected as a recipient of the 2007 Wyoming Governor's Arts Award for his contribution to music in the State of Wyoming. He has recently presented clinics at the Wyoming Music Educators Convention and the Colorado Music Educators Convention. In 1995 the Northwest Jazz Band under his direction performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators 22nd Annual Convention in Anaheim, California. In 2006 he presented a workshop and was a keynote speaker for the 67th Annual Meeting of the Texas Association of Music Schools in Austin, TX. In 2004 he was honored in his hometown of Woodward, IA at the Jim Coffin Jazz Festival for his contributions to jazz education. Mr. Hansen presented a clinic at the 2nd Annual Jazz Educators Network Conference in New Orleans in January of 2011 on the topic of how to start and run a successful jazz camp.

Mr. Hansen is also a founding member of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival, Inc. which serves Park County, Wyoming by educating and entertaining through jazz. This organization presents jazz events including the Yellowstone Jazz Festival in mid-July. He organized the first Wyoming Allstate Jazz Band and Jazz Choir which are now in their twelfth year.

2013 Jazz Educator of the Year
Neil Hansen