Dalian is a euphonium player, bass trombonist, and composer based in Atlanta, GA. He is originally from the UK, but he has been living in the USA since 2004. Dalian began their musical journey at J.C. Young Middle School where they played violin, guitar, bass, tuba, and eventually euphonium. After graduating from North Atlanta High School in 2012, he completed his BA in Music at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University (GA) where he studied euphonium with Andrew Miller and Martin Cochran and composition with Fred Cohen, Matthew McCabe, and James Ogburn. He attended SUNY Fredonia for his graduate work in Composition and Euphonium Performance. There he studied composition with Rob Deemer, euphonium with Barry Kilpatrick, and trombone with Jonathon Lombardo.
As a composer, Dalian has written for a variety of ensembles from brass quintets, percussion ensembles, saxophone quartets, tuba/euphonium quartets, and trombone ensembles to orchestras and wind ensembles. In 2016, Dalian's “Tango No. 2” was awarded the 3rd-place prize in the Richard Myers Memorial Trombone Trio Composition Contest. This piece has been performed by Tres Bone on a number of occasions. Most recently (May 2022), his work "...Another Tango" for trumpet and piano was featured in the International Trumpet Guild's New Works Recital
Dalian was principal euphonium of the Fredonia Wind Ensemble and bass trombonist for the College Symphony Orchestra and Fredonia New Jazz Ensemble. They were a founding member of 9th Street Brass and Hard Lacquer Brass. Dalian also directed the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble, a student-run group through the Fredonia Jazz Workshop that performed throughout Western New York. They also won the Fredonia Concerto Competition in 2018 and performed as a soloist with the Fredonia Wind Ensemble.
Dalian has experience teaching students from students from ages 7 throughout adulthood. He taught brass private and group lessons with the Salvation Army for many years. He's even taught Music Theory and Aural Skills to young college students as a graduate student. Dalian is determined to inspire young musicians by showing them the creative avenues and possibilities of continuing to play and study music. He meets students where they are at and helps them learn just how much they can grow.