Stan Freese

Stan Freese
Born	Stanford Freese (1944-08-21) August 21, 1944 Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Minnesota
Occupations	Musician record producer songwriter band leader talent casting and booking director
Spouse	Tera Freese
Children	Josh Freese Jason Freese

Stanford "Stan" Freese ( August 21, 1944) is an American tuba player and musical director, serving as the Talent Casting & Booking Director with Disney Entertainment Productions (The Walt Disney Company).

Born in Minnesota, Freese has worked as a musical director at the Walt Disney Company for over 40 years. Freese has served in many roles throughout his career at the company, including the Director of Bands at both the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort. He served as a Show Director for Tokyo Disneyland, an Entertainment Producer for Pleasure Island and Walt Disney World, and a Musical Show Director for Tokyo DisneySea. Freese is the Talent and Casting Director for Disneyland, finding talent, developing musical ensembles, and overseeing live musical performances at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney.

Early life and education

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Freese was selected by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as a tuba soloist with the Minnesota concert band that toured the Soviet Union, in a performance for the President of the United States at the White House. Freese was chosen again by the government to tour China as a tuba soloist with the Minnesota band on a goodwill tour.

Career

Freese began his musical career in Hollywood, where he produced and performed in television and motion picture soundtrack recordings until he was hired by Disney and moved to Orlando, Florida to serve as the first leader of the Walt Disney World Band. Two years later, Walt Disney World Band relocated to Disneyland, where he became Director of Bands and began re-envisioning the musical programming for Disneyland and the upcoming Disney California Adventure theme park.

Freese has been a tuba soloist and entertainer for over forty years.

Awards and recognition

In 1995, Freese was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Prince. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Classic Conference Fine Arts and Distinguished Service Award. In 2007, he was inducted into the Edina Hall of Fame and awarded the University of Minnesota Distinguished Graduate Award. Also in 2007, he entered the Guinness Book of World Records as producer of the largest Tuba Christmas Ensemble in the world consisting of over 500 tubas performing in concert at Downtown Disney. In 2008, he received the Disney Entertainment Excellence Award. In 2009 and 2010, he was recognized by the United States Armed Forces School of Music for participation and training of United States Army senior bandleaders for the United States military bands. In 2010, he received the Disney Entertainment Hall of Fame Award and the NAMM Association School JAM USA Award on behalf of the Walt Disney Company. In 2011, he received the O.C. Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life

Freese is married and has two sons, Josh and Jason, both studio and touring musicians. Josh is a member of Devo and played drums for Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, and others. Jason is primarily a studio musician who has performed on albums by Green Day, Dr. Dre, Pitbull, Avenged Sevenfold, Goo Goo Dolls, and Jewel.

Freese's wife, Tera, owns and operates a commercial land development company.