Hollis Dann, born in Canton, Pennsylvania, was a prominent American music educator, conductor, and author. Coming from a musical family, he studied music in Boston before returning to Canton to teach music and lead local choirs. In 1886, he became principal of the academy in Havana, New York (now Montour Falls).

Dann’s significant career in Ithaca, New York, began in 1887 when he was hired to teach penmanship in the public schools, with the agreement that he could also start music instruction. At a time when music education was not commonly part of school curricula, Dann founded high school and men’s choruses and directed the Presbyterian Church Choir. He played a key role in the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, founded in 1892, and supervised music in Ithaca schools until 1905.

In 1889, Dann became the director of the Cornell University Glee Club, transforming it significantly and organizing its first international tour in 1895. He was instrumental in the formation of the Ithaca Band and the Cornell Cadet Band (now the Cornell Big Red Marching Band) in 1894. Hired by Cornell University in 1903, he started a department of music, organized music festivals, and began the Cornell concert series. Dann was also pivotal in establishing a summer school for music teachers at Cornell.

Nationally, Dann was a significant figure in music education, chairing the New York state music council and contributing to standardizing music teaching. He was a leader in the Music Supervisors National Conference, including serving as president, and conducted the first national high school chorus.

Dann briefly left his academic duties during World War I to serve as the Army Song Leader in Kentucky, where he compiled the first Army Song Book. He authored various songbooks and manuals for music teachers, notably the Hollis Dann Music Course.

In 1921, Dann moved to Pennsylvania as the state music director, developing a statewide curriculum and advocating community singing. He later joined New York University in 1925, founding the Department of Music Education and staying until his retirement in 1936. Dann continued his educational and conducting work until his death in 1939.