Dear Friends of The CJE:

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Frank Dawson, guitarist with The CJE since 2000 and a Columbia College Chicago faculty member, passed away June 2nd after a brief illness.    Frank was a gracious, warm human being who was dedicated to music, his students and his family.  His presence and spirit will be missed greatly.

A wake for Frank Dawson will be held Friday from 4 to 8 PM at McMurrough Chapel in Libertyville. The funeral takes place Saturday at 9:30 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 175 E. Illinois Rd. in Lake Forest.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Frank Dawson began his musical studies with Victor Lawrence and started playing professionally while still in high school.  Upon graduation, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended the USN School of Music, studying with Ralph Grasso.  While stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois he toured with unit band #15, traveling all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico.  Recent highlights in his career include a concert-clinic tour of the central belt of Italy, teaching at the Superior School of Music in Pescara, Italy, and performing in various towns surrounding Pescara with a quintet version of The Chicago Jazz Ensemble in June 2000.

As an educator, Mr. Dawson joined the fretboard division of Columbia College Chicago in 1990 on a part time basis and instituted the Jazz Guitar Ensemble, five years later.  Becoming an Artist-in-Residence in 1997, he began teaching Theory, Harmony, Ear Training and Jazz Styles and Analysis.