David Hess

David grew up in Lakeland, Fl. His family had a history in music, his father having sung in professional gospel quartets, his mother a singer and instrumentalist. He attended Crystal Lake Junior High School, where he won the Outstanding Bandsman Award in the eighth grade (which was a big deal at the time). David graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. His last few years there, he was the first freestyle drum major of the Gator Marching Band, President of Phi Mu Alpha, and a member of Florida Blue Key and Omicron Delta Kappa. After one year as the band director at Ocala Forest High School (where he received a First Chair of America Outstanding Band Director Award), David attended Louisiana State University as a graduate assistant in the School of Music. Among his activities in the instrumental music program, David played trumpet in the LSU School of Music's #1 jazz band and directed the #2 jazz band. While at LSU, David played trumpet for