In 2013 the New Edmonton Wind Sinphonia’s performance of Allan Gilliland’s composition Kalla featured McNeill as guest soloist; Kalla won the 2013 Western Canadian Music Awards (W.C.M.A.) Classical Composition award and 2015 Dean performed Kalla at the World Associate of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles conference in San Jose California with the UofS Wind Orchestra. Dean composed music for the CD Complete Rebirth of the Cool, a project headed by composer Jeff Presslaff, which created new repertoire as inspired by Miles Davis’ landmark recording Birth of the Cool. (e.g Presslaff’s project used the same instrumentation as Davis’ original recording). The Complete Rebirth of the Cool CD was also nominated for a W.C.M.A award in 2014.

Dean is currently the Artistic Director of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra and the UofS Jazz Ensemble.

Dean has also lead many professional jazz and classical chamber ensembles (e.g. on Canadian tours and as recorded by CBC Radio), and, he has performed alongside the likes of many notable musicians such as Tommy Banks, Jon Balantyne, David Braid, Dee Daniels, Phil Dwyer, Mark Fewer, Hugh Fraser, Wycliffe Gordon, Kelly Jefferson, Molly Johnson, Ingrid Jensen, Oliver Jones, Al Kay, Jens Lindeman, Bob Mintzer, PJ Perry, Sam Pilafian, Denzal Sinclaire, Brad Turner, Carol Welsman, Allen Vizzutti among others. Dean has also been a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) trumpet section since 1998 and has guest conducted the SSO on pops concerts including KD Lang, Natalie McMaster and Eileen Laverty.

Dean has taught a variety of brass and jazz courses at the University of Saskatchewan for the past 23 years while performing and adjudicating throughout Canada and the United States.