2024 Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow

Meet David Lea

David Lea is in his ninth season as a member of the Houston Pride Band, and has served as Co-Artistic Director since 2018. Since joining the artistic team, David has conducted the Houston Pride Band at the Women Band Directors International conference in 2022 as a featured concert and clinic ensemble, and was Artistic Co-Director for the Pride Bands Alliance National Conference in 2021. David has commissioned four world premieres, most recently leading a consortium commision with composer JaRod Hall to culminate the band’s 45th season. David is a founding member of BrassTax, the Houston Pride Band Brass Quintet, performing throughout Houston as a musical ambassador for HPB’s outreach initiatives. For the past two seasons, David also played trumpet for the NFL Houston Texans’ Deep Steel Thunder pep band, and was an inaugural member of the Professional Sports Musicians Association's All-Star High Brass line. In his 10th year of teaching, David currently serves as the Head Band Director and fine arts department chair at Null Middle School in Sheldon ISD (Houston, TX). He previously taught in Pasadena ISD and Aldine ISD, both in the greater Houston area. As a strong believer in the power of music and community, he is proud to be able to impact 30% of his campus as members of the band program (among 13 elective options). His bands have enjoyed successes at UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Evaluations, and local and regional festivals.  As a private trumpet teacher, his students have made Michigan All-state, earned first divisions at regional and state solo & ensemble contests, and had the honor of participating in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. David earned bachelor’s degrees from Texas A&M and Michigan State University in Psychology and Music Education, respectively. He earned his Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas. His professional memberships include Texas Music Educators and Texas Bandmasters Associations.