Biography

Dr. Dean Jilek, Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Dakota, conducts the Concert Choir and Varsity Bards and teaches courses in choral conducting, choral literature and vocal methods.  He also serves as the artistic director of the Grand Forks Chorale and Master Chorale.  Dean earned his Doctorate of Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas where he studied with Jerry McCoy and Richard Sparks.  Dean received his Master of Choral Conducting and Literature from North Dakota State University and earned his undergraduate degree in vocal education from Dickinson State University in North Dakota.

Dr. Jilek’s experience in conducting includes the Vancouver Professional Chamber Choir Symposium where he studied under Jon Washburn, and the International Conducting Workshop Festival in Bulgaria, where Dean focused on orchestral conducting.  

Prior to his university position, Dean’s teaching career encompassed k-12 education with short tenures in North Dakota at the Hazen School District and Dickinson Trinity High School, as well as, the Mitchell School District in South Dakota.  From 2004-2013, Dean was the Director of Choral Activities at Roseville Area High School in Minnesota.  Under his direction, the school’s top mixed choir, Cantus Certus, was invited by blind audition to perform at the National ACDA Convention in Dallas (2013), Concordia College Choral Festival (2013), Luther College Dorian Vocal Festival (2013), Luther College Dorian Spring Choral Festival (2012), Minnesota MEA Convention (2012), Minnesota ACDA Choral Arts Finale (2011), Minnesota State ACDA Convention (2006, 2011).  Dean is a sought after clinician and guest conductor in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas, and he served as the North Dakota Women’s All State Choir director in March 2015. He currently lives in Grand Forks with his wife Diane, daughters Clare, Gemma, Cecilia, and son Basil.