Dana Hall

Dana Hall serves as Professor of Jazz Studies and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at DePaul University's School of Music in Chicago. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University, BM from William Paterson College, MM in composition and arranging from DePaul University (1999), and is completing his PhD in ethnomusicology as a Special Trustees Fellow at the University of Chicago. Previously taught at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before joining DePaul in 2012.

His research focuses on jazz studies and ethnomusicology with particular emphasis on drumset performance, musical improvisation, and cross-cultural music traditions. Hall maintains an active international performance career while advancing scholarly work on jazz drumming techniques and pedagogy. His professional activities bridge academic research with practical performance applications across multiple musical genres.

His notable publication Drum Wisdom (Modern Drummer, 2018) explores authentic musical sources and performance philosophy. The article synthesizes his decades of experience with major jazz artists into accessible pedagogical frameworks emphasizing technical mastery and cultural understanding.

• Chicago Tribune 2009 Chicagoan of the Year

Hall mentors students through private instruction and institutional programs including Jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Directors Academy and Thelonious Monk Institute's Jazz in America Program. He has directed educational initiatives at Ravinia Festivals' Jazz in Schools Mentoring Program and Merit School of Music. His artistic leadership includes serving as Artistic Director of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (2011-2012) and permanent member of The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band.

He performs regularly with his quartet spring and previously spent eleven years with the Terell Stafford Quintet. His 2009 debut album Into the Light reached #8 on JazzWeek Top-50 and #3 on College Music Journal Top-40 Jazz charts.