Janis McKay, Dean

Janis McKay is the Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at San Diego State University. Previously, she served as the Vice Dean for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). As Professor of Music, Dr. McKay taught student bassoonists as well as numerous undergraduate and graduate courses for 25 years. She was also elected Chair of the UNLV Faculty Senate during the 2029-2020 academic year.

Dr. McKay was the principal bassoonist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic for 24 years. She continues to perform as the contrabassoonist for the Reno Philharmonic and as principal bassoon for the Classical Music Festival in Austria. Dr. McKay has held positions and/or performed with numerous ensembles including Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Louisville Orchestra among many others. Dr. McKay has performed with artists Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Charlotte Church, John Williams, Seth MacFarlane, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Metallica, Stevie Wonder, and Tony Bennett. She can be heard on Summit, d'Note, Starkland Records, and First Edition recordings. Her solo album “Dark Wind” was released by Troppo Note Publishing in 2017.

She authored the book "Played Out on the Strip: The Rise and Fall of Las Vegas Casino Bands," published by University of Nevada Press in 2016, as well as a book chapter in "The Possibility Machine: Music and Myth in Las Vegas," forthcoming October 2023 by University of Illinois Press. She has published 2 articles in the New Grove Dictionary of American Music.