The Citation of Excellence is a competition for Texas non varsity high school & middle school bands
Tim Rhea
Dr. Timothy Rhea is currently in his 28th year at Texas A&M University, where he serves as Director of Bands & Music Activities. He serves as administrative head of the Music Activities Program, conducts the University Wind Symphony, and oversees the Texas Aggie Band. Dr. Rhea holds degrees in music education and conducting from the University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University, and the University of Houston. Dr. Rhea has conducted the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony for almost every major band organization in the nation, also releasing numerous internationally distributed recordings. He maintains a very successful career as an arranger and composer with an output of over 300 pieces, to include over fifty published works. Dr. Rhea maintains an internationally active schedule as conductor, clinician, and adjudicator having appeared throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia. He has received the Citation of Excellence from the NBA, was selected as the Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year for Texas, and has received the President’s Meritorious Service Award to Texas A&M University. Dr. Rhea is Past-President of the American Bandmasters Association, and currently serves as Vice-President/Secretary of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, in addition to positions with several related professional organizations. He recently oversaw the planning and construction of the new Texas A&M University Music Activities Center. In the facility, the Dr. Timothy B. Rhea Concert Rehearsal Hall was named in his honor. This past spring, he received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Administration from Texas A&M University.
Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis is the Director of Orchestral Studies and the Bob and Judy Charles Professor of Conducting in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he conducts the University Symphony Orchestra and oversees the entire orchestra program. He is also Music Director and Conductor of the Midland-Odessa (TX) Symphony Orchestra.
At CU-Boulder Mr. Lewis also leads the graduate program in orchestral conducting including both the masters and doctoral level. His former students are currently enjoying success as conductors with professional orchestras and opera companies, university and public school ensembles, and youth orchestras.
Prior to his appointment at Colorado, Lewis served on the faculties of Texas Tech University, The Ohio State University, The University of Michigan, and Abilene Christian University. He is equally at home with professional, university, and youth ensembles. He is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic and has appeared with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival, Boulder Ballet, Midland Ballet Theater, Ballet Lubbock, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, the New Symphony Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria), and the Western Plains Opera Theater. His work with summer music festivals has also been noteworthy including the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Pine Mountain Music Festival (opera and symphonic) and Rocky Ridge Music Center.
As a strong advocate of music education, Mr. Lewis has presented many in-service workshops for public school educators, as well as numerous presentations at state and regional music education association conferences. In addition, he has conducted All-State Orchestras and Bands in many states along with the ASTA National Honor Orchestra and the Honor Orchestra of America. In 2010 Mr. Lewis became the founding Artistic Director of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and also served as conductor of the Symphony Orchestra until 2016.
Mr. Lewis is also a strong proponent of new music. He has been instrumental in the development and production of contemporary music festivals and his interest in new music has led him to collaborations with composers such as Dan Kellogg, Carter Pann, George Crumb, William Bolcom, John Harbison, Chen Yi, Michael Daugherty, Stephen Paulus, and many others.
Gary Lewis is a Yamaha Master Educator.
