East HartfordPublic Schools

The Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) has selected Dan O'Brien as the winner of the 2025 Outstanding Music Educator Award. O'Brien teaches band, jazz, global and creative music at East Hartford Middle School and East Hartford High School. 

CMEA's Outstanding Music Educator Award recognizes a teacher with at least six years of experience teaching music in the state of Connecticut who has demonstrated excellence and dedication to their students.

In his work, O’Brien seeks to engage students of all experience levels in culturally responsive content that is rigorous both in its authenticity and diversity. He believes when students feel represented in the cultural context of the music they create, and they develop tools to express their personal creative inquiry, then they have the potential to be part of our global musical landscape.

In addition to teaching, O’Brien is also an active professional musician in the fields of jazz and improvised music. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University, a Master’s in Jazz Composition from the University of North Texas, and post-graduate studies in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music.