Join Mark McLean in the intimate atmosphere of Pyatt Hall for a jazz masterclass, as this celebrated performer coaches advanced young students in front of an audience.
Tickets are $15 for the general public, and FREE for currently enrolled VSO School of Music students. If you are eligible for free tickets, you will receive an email with a code to reserve your place. This event is part of the International Master Teachers series.
Mark McLean is a dynamic studio and touring musician based in New York City. Born in Toronto, his musical journey began at age nine as a gifted classical pianist before he shifted his focus to drums in his teens. McLean earned a scholarship to the University of Toronto, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance. While still a student, he began performing with jazz luminaries, including a stint with seminal pianist and fellow Canadian Oscar Peterson.
Since relocating to New York in 2000, McLean has been in steady demand for over two decades,anchoring and collaborating with artists such as Joe Sample, Gladys Knight, Rickie Lee Jones, John Legend, Jamie Cullum, Catherine Russell, Michael Feinstein, Dionne Warwick, Billy Joel, and the late George Michael.
In addition to his work as an in-demand sideman, McLean is a respected bandleader and
recording artist. He has released two acclaimed solo albums: Playground (2010), an instrumental blend of traditional and modern jazz, and Feel Alright (2014), which showcases his work as a songwriter.
McLean has recently expanded into composing for film and television. His credits include co-scoring How It Feels to Be Free for PBS’s American Masters, scoring the documentary Black Liberators WWII for Canada’s History Channel (2021), and most recently composing music for the animated GBH Kids/PBS series Acoustic Rooster. The series introduces jazz to preschoolers through collaboration and ensemble playing and received two 2026 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Original Song (co-written by McLean) and Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.