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Neil attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst on a Chancellor's Talent Scholarship for four years of study in music education. He graduated receiving the highest departmental award, the Lebow Scholar, and then began his teaching career as a High School Instrumental Music Teacher in Bennington, Vermont. He was later recruited to serve as a Graduate Assistant for the Director of Bands at UMass, receiving a master's degree in music education with an emphasis in conducting.  Neil served as the conductor of the UMass Youth Wind Ensemble for several years and was the adjunct professor of trumpet and brass methods at Keene State College in New Hampshire.  His success on the podium during this time led to annual engagements as a festival conductor across New England, conducting several district festivals, honor bands, and community ensembles.  He spent five summers in Europe as conductor of the United States Youth Wind Ensemble, working with the top high school musicians from across the country.  

 

Over the next decade, he taught instrumental music in the Berkshires at Wahconah Regional High School, where his music program received a Grammy Signature School award for outstanding curriculum in addition to the highest performance ratings at festivals.  Dedicated to bringing cross-generational arts opportunities to the community, he served as the condctor of the Eagles Band and with their support, established the Public Arts Resource Center inititative in an effort to create additional arts enrichment programs for the community.     

 

Neil has been recognized on several occasions for his contributions to the field of education, having received outstanding educator awards from the Western District Music Educators Association, Central Berkshire Regional School District, Yale University, 2019 Vermont Music Educator of the Year in SBO Magazine, a quarter-finalist for Grammy Music Educator of the year, and the Roland Faculty Chair from Burr and Burton Academy.  

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He spent the majority of his career as the Director of Creative Arts at Burr and Burton Academy and prided himself on his advancements in personalized learning in the music production classroom.  Leveraging computer assisted instruction, his blended learning offerings widen the exposure of the music industry for his students; film scoring, audio engineering, music compositon, digital dj, and more.  During this period he also served as the adjunct instructor of Trumpet at Castleton University in Vermont and a Visiting Artist at Williams College, conducting the Brass Ensemble each week.  

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Neil is an active Music Producer, Educator, Composer, Arranger, and Trumpet performer who is currently enjoying retirement. 

 

 

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Neil Freebern

Music Educator, Conductor, Producer, Composer, Arranger, Brass Specialist

 

CURRENT WORK

Conductor of the Williams College Brass Ensemble

Freelance Music Producer, Composer, Arranger

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MUSIC EDUCATOR:

  • Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester, VT 2003-2023

    • Chair of Creative Arts Department​

    • Administrative Team Member - Institutional Systems Management

  • Conductor Williams College Wind Ensemble - Williamstown, MA

  • Trumpet Professor Castleton University – Castleton, VT

  • Music Educator - Wahconah Regional High School – Dalton MA.

  • Music Educator -Moffat County Regional High School -Craig CO.

  • Trumpet Professor Keene State University – Keene NH.

  • Music Educator -Mount Anthony Union High School -Bennington VT.

  • Contemporary Music Ensemble Conductor Amherst College – Amherst, MA

  • Conductor- The United States Youth Wind Ensemble

  • Conductor-University of Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble

  • Guest Conductor/Director- honor band festivals in New England.

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NON-PROFIT WORK:

  • Executive director of the Public Arts Resource Center- PARC.  Pittsfield, MA

  • Consultant for MAPS- Contemporary Music Festival Vail, CO

  • Consultant for the Arlington Commons - Community Center​

  • GNAT -TV – Board Member

  • Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning – affiliate programmer for London Theater Streaming performances

 

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PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS:

  • Global Music Award - Best Original Sound Score for a Short Film 2019

  • Vermont Recipient of the SBO 50 Directors that Make a Difference Award. 2018

  • Grammy Music Educator Quarterfinalist - 2017

  • Rowland Endowed Chair, Distinguished Educator Award - Burr and Burton Academy 2010

  • YALE Distinguished Educator Award, Presented by Yale University 2007

  • Educational Wiki Award - Presented by Wikispaces.com February 2007

  • Outstanding Educator Award- Western Massachusetts 1999

  • Grammy Signature School Award, Naris Foundation. Outstanding curricular offerings. 1999

  • Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Association Gold Medal. For superior Concert Band Performance. 1999 Excellence in Teaching Award, Central Berkshire Schools, 1997

  • Lebow Memorial Scholarship. Musicianship Award - Highest Departmental Honor UMass Music Department. 1988 -1989 Chancellor's Talent Award. Complete Tuition Scholarship UMass Music Department 1986-1989,

  • Thomas F. Parker Service Award For service to University Ensembles - UMass Music Department 1987

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SKILLS

Blended Learning Specialist and Course Developer Music Production

Learning Management Systems Programmer and User

  • Power School, Rediker, Canvas, On Campus, iBooks, Google Classroom, Kissflow

Microsoft Office Suite

Digital Audio Workstations: Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, Protools, Fl Pro

Sound Designer - Foley, Synthesis, Podcast Editor, Film Scoring

Conductor - Wind Ensembles, Electro-Acoustic Ensembles, Orchestra

Trumpet performer- all horns

Jazz Pianist - Improvization

Music Arranger and Composer - Finale Software specialist

Music Producer - Advanced Mixing and Mastering skills, DJ

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