Ian McDougall Scholarship in Jazz

Victoria and Vancouver Island have been home to many internationally-celebrated musicians.  Ian McDougall stands tall among them.  Considered one of the world’s finest trombonists, Ian returned to Victoria in 1989 to teach trombone here at the University of Victoria and to launch its first courses in jazz.

Ian’s skills as a performer, composer, arranger and teacher have had a huge influence on the hundreds of students who have had the privilege to work with, and learn from him.  The community of jazz enthusiasts in Victoria has also been privileged to enjoy his performances with the UVic Big Band which he directed, with the Ian McDougall Quartet and Sextet, and as a guest with the Hermann’s Monday Night Big Band.   Ian’s warm tone, musical versatility, dry sense of humour and down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach have endeared him to many.  He is one of few who can be considered both a musician’s musician and a people’s musician.


More About Ian

  • born in Calgary, June 14, 1938
  • grew up in Victoria and started playing professionally at the age of 12
  • performed with local jazz bands in many Victoria venues including the Union Club, the Sirocco Club, the Empress Hotel and the Crystal Gardens Ballroom
  • left Victoria in 1960 to tour in Great Britain with the John Dankworth Band
  • returned to Canada in 1962 and began a lengthy career as a freelance player, composer and arranger
  • lead trombone and soloist, recording and performing internationally for 20 years with the Boss Brass, based in Toronto
  • founding member, soloist, lead trombone and arranger for the Brass Connection
  • returned to Victoria to teach at UVic in 1989
  • compositions have been performed by the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, the Lafayette String Quartet, the Toronto Symphony and many others
  • formed, and performed internationally with the Ian McDougall Quartet and Sextet with three CDs to their credit
  • directed two BBC Big Band broadcasts in England
  • guest performer and clinician at three International Trombone Association Conventions
  • retired from teaching at the University of Victoria in 2003

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