Dr. Brian Hanegan is an internationally-touring saxophonist, composer, and bandleader from Sioux Falls, SD. As an Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the Augustana University School of Music, Hanegan directs the Northlanders Jazz Ensemble, Blues & Gold Jazz Combo, teaches studio saxophone, jazz improvisation, and the history of jazz, blues, and rock. In addition, he supervises the annual Jazz on the Upper Great Plains Festival. In 2024, he won the highly coveted Frederick C. Kohlmeyer Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award, recognizing and rewarding outstanding teaching at Augustana. He began his professional career as the saxophonist in a summer revue show at Valleyfair Amusement Park in Minneapolis, MN (2006-08). From there, Hanegan toured internationally with Carnival Cruise Lines as a multiple-woodwind artist in a seven-piece show orchestra. With Carnival, Hanegan performed nightly alongside musicians from all over the world and served as musical director of the Carnival Elation in 2012. Since then, Hanegan has performed with The Temptations, Jeff Coffin, Rex Richardson, Matthew Whitaker, Bob Mintzer, Scotty Barnhart, Byron Stripling, Mike Tomaro, John Raymond, Allen Vizzutti, Adam Larson, Adam Meckler, Frankie Avalon, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has opened for Cheap Trick, Sister Hazel, The Wallflowers, Heart, The Beach Boys, John Pardi, and Mitchell Tenpenny. Currently, Hanegan is performing across the Midwest in a variety of groups including the 12-time Sioux Falls #1 local best band Goodroad, the Brian Hanegan Quintet, Jazzed Up Big Band, and freelancing with numerous other jazz/commercial groups. In addition, Hanegan performed and conducted the Northlanders Jazz Band on a15-day international tour of Spain in January 2023—performing at jazz clubs, music conservatories, performing arts schools, and concert halls in 9 different cities. In April of 2021, Hanegan released his debut album Constellation and followed up with a single You & Me in 2023. He is actively tracking his second full-length album set to release in 2025. Hanegan is a Yamaha Artist and Aaron Drake Mouthpieces Performing Artist and holds degrees from North Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, and Northern State University.
