A native of Los Angeles, California, Terry began his musical journey on tuba in middle school. He has been a freelance musician since the age of 15 and has studied under the tutelage of Bill Masonheimer, Roy Main, Dr. Tony Mazzaferro, Gene Pokorny and Doug Tornquist. He has performed with the West Valley Symphony, Santa Monica Symphony, Cypress Pops Orchestra, Santa Barbara Symphony, Los Angeles Camerata Orchestra, Americus Brass, as well as Disneyland's Bayou Brass and Magic Kingdom Korps just to name a few. Terry is also one of the founding members of the Infinity Brass.

Terry is a graduate of CSU Northridge with a BA in Music Education. While at Northridge he played in various performance ensembles such as the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, University Brass Quintet, Jazz A Band, Tuba Ensemble and Tuba Quartet. Mr. Dawson is also a graduate of University of Phoenix with a Masters Degree in Secondary Education. Terry has taught and has been a clinician at many middle schools and high schools in Southern California and has been teaching privately for more than 20 years. Mr. Dawson is the Director of Bands at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs, California. He instructs the Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Bands, as well as being responsible for the Drum Line and Color Guard. He is married with two boys, continues to arrange and compose music for high school bands and local ensembles, clinics and coaches at local high schools, and continues to teach privately.