He has led sessions at the NYSSMA Winter Conference, The Balanced Mind Curriculum Conference, and to educators in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. McNeur is often sought as a conductor, clinician and workshop leader, leading sessions in arts development, arts advocacy, teacher training, public and community relations. McNeur has led MYO on many summer performance tours, including to China, Central and Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Today, MYO comprises over 1000 student musicians, nine orchestras and seven vocal ensembles – all of which perform at the region’s most respected venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tilles Center, Staller Center and Adelphi Performing Arts Center. In the first year, 14 students enrolled in the fledgling program, which rehearsed in the basement of a church in Manhasset. A self-described student of the world, McNeur set out in 1993 to share his experiences with young aspiring musicians by creating the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York (MYO). If music is the universal language, then John McNeur speaks it fluently. In 2010 he was honored by Nassau BOCES with their Educational Partners Award. In 2008, he was honored as the “Educator of Note” by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. He has twice been awarded the International Tri-M Distinguished Service Award. In addition, he has served as conductor of several youth orchestras in Connecticut and New York, including several county and state orchestras and bands. McNeur served three terms as general chair for the Music Educators National Conference (aka NAfME) All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, organizing festivals in Rochester, Baltimore and at Carnegie Hall. Currently, McNeur is a NYSSMA All-State Woodwind Adjudicator, serving at several festivals each spring.
He also served as Executive Board member and Zone 13 Representative for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). He is retired as the Director of Music & Performing Arts for Herricks Public Schools, was national chairman of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, is a past president of the Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA), New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME), and was the founder of the committee responsible for the annual Balanced Mind Curriculum Conference.
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McNeur’s reach and impact can be measured by the number of students taught, the success of alumni who have gone on to receive scholarships at the nation's best universities, conservatories and music schools, and a four decade career dedicated to sharing his passion for music and the performing arts. Hired in 1986 as Director of Music & Performing Arts for the suburban Long Island, New York district of Herricks, he built the program into one of the premiere music departments in the country, winning GRAMMY Gold Signature status and twice recognized by the NYS School Music Association as a “Program of Excellence.” He attended Bard College and received degrees in music from the University of Bridgeport (CT) and in administration from Fairfield University.
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John McNeur was born in Scotland and was raised in several US cities and New Zealand.