Dave McLellan ’76

Dave McLellan ’76 first discovered The Hartt School in thanks to a friend from high school who was in his first year at the University of Hartford. His friend shared the course catalog with him and saw something that intrigued him—classical guitar. Dave was in his first year at Muskingum University in Ohio, but he decided to apply since he was excited by the opportunity to study something he loved. He was accepted, and in 1973 he transferred to The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.  “It felt like the right place to be and the right career choice,” he remembers. After graduating in 1976, Dave began teaching at Hartt, deepening what later became his lifelong connection to the school.

Dave’s connection to the Hartt school has only grown stronger throughout the years. In 1996, Dave and his wife, Jeannette created the David S. and Margaret McLellan Endowed Scholarship for Performance Outreach at the Hartt School, which continues to support Hartt students in music, dance, and theater.  “I had just started playing again after some time away, and it felt like the right moment to connect and give back,” Dave says. Two years later, Dave founded Concert in Your Living Room, a program that brings people together through music while supporting charitable causes.

As a member of Hartt’s Board of Trustees, Dave went on to create Hartt@Home, a program that brought together Hartt students, faculty, and alumni into homes and virtual spaces, which was critically important during Covid. Through the program, the performers could connect with audiences in personal ways, and all for a good cause. “At that point it was never about fundraising. It was more about friend raising. Performers weren’t paid, but they gained a stage, audience, and a chance to share their art.” 

Dave says it is incredibly rewarding to hear from students about what these opportunities have done for them. His hope was to prepare guitar students for their career, but today it really benefits students from across The Hartt School and he’s confident that they are better quipped for their future.

For Dave, this legacy is personal too. His daughter, also a Hartt alumnae, represents the next generation. Alison earned her Music Education degree from Hartt in 2011 and now teaches music in a Colorado elementary school. Dave is a proud dad, sharing that Alison’s  education, love of music, and belief in the power of music to bring people together, brings joy to his heart.

Looking back, Dave is most proud of the relationships he built at Hartt. In his time there he connected with mentors and fellow students who became lifelong friends and collaborators. Looking forward, he hopes his giving inspires others to do the same.

“I’m not stopping anywhere,” Dave says with a smile. “Retirement has only made volunteering and giving back more important. The University of Hartford and The Hartt School gave me so much—it’s an honor to share that gift with others.”