Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award

Jeffrey Dean Recipient and Presentation.jpeg

Vicky Rogers, Caterina Wu, Abby Dean, Autumn Dean

Caterina Wu with her parents, Gang Wu and Lin Pu

Congratulations to the 2025 Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award recipient, Caterina Wu

Belle Voci Board Chairperson, Vicky Rogers, together with Abby and Autumn Dean, daughters of Jeffrey Dean and Monica Pica, made the announcement and presented the award at the annual Jeffrey Dean Memorial Recital, a performance that showcases the talents of music students at Fox Chapel Area High School.

The event was held on May 18, 2025, marking the 18th year this prestigious award has been presented to a Fox Chapel Area High School senior. The honor recognizes a student who has demonstrated leadership—both in formal roles and through personal example—and has shown a passion for musical performance throughout their high school years.

Belle Voci maintains the Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award, which was established in memory of the 1980 Fox Chapel Area High School graduate who found and brought joy to others through musical performance. A selection committee, comprised of the Fox Chapel Area High School choral, orchestra, and band directors, along with a representative from the Belle Voci Jeffrey Dean Advisory Committee, chooses the award recipient.

Caterina was a member of the Concert Choir, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. She participated in AP Music Theory as well as the Fall Orchestra and Spring Musical as assistant concertmaster.

Caterina has been accepted to the University of Pittsburgh, where she plans to minor in music.

In her application essay, Caterina wrote, “I've always approached music with passion and a willingness to contribute wherever needed. I've found joy not only in the music itself but in the shared experience with others. As the senior representative on the orchestra council and assistant concertmaster, I've worked closely with peers and teachers to help shape the program and support others. Being a leader in such a collaborative space taught me how to listen, encourage, and uplift, skills that go far beyond music.”

The Jeffrey W. Dean Memorial Award & Recital

The Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award, established in 2008, is available to seniors at Fox Chapel Area High School who plan on pursuing post-secondary education at an accredited school, college or university in any major course of study for the fall term of the next school year. To be eligible for consideration for this $2500 award, a student must have participated in a FCAHS music ensemble, exhibit leadership by example, and should have a passion for musical performance. 2025 is the 18th year that the award was presented.

The Jeffrey Dean Memorial Recital has been established to showcase the talents of music students at Fox Chapel Area High School who have seriously studied a musical instrument through private training during their high school career. Fox Chapel Area High School has no other event specifically designed to provide this kind of performance opportunity for trained student musicians.

In addition to providing musicians with a prestigious recital opportunity, the Dean Memorial Recital is intended to provide permanent funding for the Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award.

Jeffrey W. Dean graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 1980. While in high school Jeffrey was an active participant and leader in Fox Chapel’s music programs, performed in four musicals, and was drum major in the marching band. Jeffrey went on to be the drum major in the University of Pittsburgh marching band and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. Jeffrey’s love of singing and musical performance continued to be an essential part of his life as he earned a master’s degree in computer engineering and began his career. Jeffrey sang with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for two summers and participated in community theater programs wherever his career took him. After Jeffrey married and had a family, he and his wife Monica founded a studio of performing arts for children and directed a musical with the studio’s students each year. On April 8, 2005 at the age of 43, Jeffrey Dean died of brain cancer, leaving behind his wife and four young children. His family and friends have set up this academic award in memory of the joy he found and brought to others through musical performance.

To Donate:

All donations are used to fund the Jeffrey Dean Memorial Award. Thank you for your generosity!

Belle Voci is a registered Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporationwith (501(c)(3) IRS federal tax exemption status.