Dean
Pratt
Mentor

Dean was born in 1983 and from the age of 4 was undertaking pre-instrumental lessons in Frankston, Victoria. As Dean entered secondary school he was given the opportunity to learn the trumpet. He instantly fell in love with the instrument and found he had a natural talent to imitate style and technique from those around him.

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Dean started his musical theatre journey in the PLOS Musical Productions orchestra pit at the age of 15. Thanks to his then trumpet teacher John Lucas and Musical Director Bev Woodford, Dean was able to experience the fast paced, endurance heavy skills that only a live pit can offer by playing 2nd trumpet alongside his teacher. As the years went on, Dean then took on the role as 1st trumpet on dozens of PLOS shows and found joy in helping younger players in the pit like he was helped years before.

 

Dean was a graduate of the VCA and was one of the few trumpet students who were permitted to cross over between the classical stream and the jazz stream. Dean often credits these early years at PLOS, and especially his training in reading musical scores, as the foundation towards his success as a musician in adulthood.

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In his later years, Dean became a successful musician overseas, playing professionally in the Middle East, Europe and the US. His band The Swing Revue won Best Band in the Dubai Time Out awards in 2018. His originals band Jaye & Foe toured the UK and played at the prestigious Boomtown and Shambala Festivals. During his time abroad Dean ran the Abu Dhabi Big Band, played for the UAE National Symphony Orchestra and was a regular feature at corporate events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Dubai Jazz Festival and the Dubai World Cup. He also played for high profile clients such as Atlantis on the Palm, Tiffany & Co, and Lanvin, 

 

Upon returning to live in Australia in 2018, Dean was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in May 2019 at the age of 35. During his time receiving treatment, Dean would often reflect on his time at PLOS as being the reason he was so successful in not only his music career, but also in life.

 

Dean passed away on July 9, 2022 at the age of 38. His family and friends could see no better honour for Dean, and to continue his legacy as a musician, than to offer a young music student the same opportunity that Dean received through PLOS, a company he played close to 20 shows with over the years..