Meet John Meehan
A globally recognized composer, arranger, clinician, and adjudicator, John Meehan has dedicated his career to advancing the art of music performance.
With extensive experience in marching band, concert band, and media composition, he’s known for his fresh, dynamic, and engaging musical approach.
John Meehan is a world-renowned composer, arranger, and clinician with over 30 years of experience in marching band and brass pedagogy.
Since 1994, he has been a key part of the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, designing shows and arranging for their ensembles.
His work spans marching bands worldwide, with clients across the U.S., Canada, Brazil, China, England, Ireland, and Japan. Beyond pageantry, John has composed for films, commercials, and concert bands, including projects for Kaiser Permanente and The Music of WYLAND album.
John was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2019, as well as the Buglers Hall of Fame in 2016.
His achievements include designing the System Blue and King marching brass series, contributing to Sample Logic and System Blue sound libraries, and serving as a nationally recognized adjudicator for Bands of America and other circuits. He even performed as a percussionist on the Monsters University soundtrack.
His work spans marching bands worldwide, with clients across the U.S., Canada, Brazil, China, England, Ireland, and Japan. Beyond pageantry, John has composed for films, commercials, and concert bands, including projects for Kaiser Permanente and The Music of WYLAND album.
The Story of YYC Music Design & Consultation
After moving to Calgary, Alberta in June of 2023, John felt his life shifting in many ways. Having lived in California for the majority of his life, Calgary seemed new, fresh, and almost like a restart.
JKS Music (formed in 1995 with Scott Johnson) had been very successful for John, where he had the opportunity to arrange and compose, as well as clinic, many amazing bands around the globe.
With the move to Calgary, John decided to rebrand, and not only embrace the move, but engrain himself into the community, while maintaining his involvement as an arranger and composer for marching and concert bands.
YYC is the airport code for Calgary. John is a lifelong Rush fan, and you may be familiar with their song YYZ, which is the airport code for Toronto.
The logo for YYC has several different meanings included in its design; you will see the music note, and the initials JM. Additionally, you will see an artistic image of the “Three Sisters” mountain range in Alberta.
John immediately felt drawn to this beautiful piece of nature, in main part because of his three amazing daughters.
