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The American conductor, Timothy Rhea, garduated from the DeKalb, Texas High School in 1983, and grew up in the music programs of the Texas public schools. He earned the Bachelor of Music Education with honors from the University of Arkansas where he was a private conducting student of Eldon A. Janzen. He earned the Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Texas Tech University where he studied with the late James Sudduth. During his time at Tech, he served as assistant conductor of the University Symphonic Band and graduate assistant director and musical arranger to the Texas Tech University Marching Band, where he worked with Keith Bearden. Rhea was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting and Composition from the University of Houston in May 1999.
Timothy Rhea joined the Texas A&M University band staff in June 1993, and assumed his position of Director of Bands on June 1, 2002. In 1995, he was named conductor of the Texas A&M Univesity Symphonic Band, which would later be renamed as the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony. Rhea became the Director of Bands of Texas A&M on June 1, 2002. He has conducted the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony at the Texas Music Educators Association, the College Band Directors National Association, and the American Bandmasters Association conventions. Upon several occasions, he has toured with the band throughout the state of Texas, including performances at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Wortham Center in Houston, as well as San Antonio and Austin. Rhea began conducting the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony in Europe in 1999, subsequently returning in 2001, 2004, and 2007. Currently, under his direction, the band has performed concerts in England, Ireland, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Rhea, with the Texas A&M University Wind Symphony, has released a six volume march series, entitled “Legacy of the March”; a four volume band music album, “Wind Band Masterworks”; and, occasionally, live concert recordings. On February 22, 2008, Rhea became the first director of Texas A&M to take a music ensemble to Carnegie Hall in New York City.
In addition to conducting, Timothy Rhea maintains a very successful career as an arranger and composer. His output of compositions and arrangements numbers over 300. For over ten years, he maintained an extremely active schedule as an arranger for both university and public school marching bands. As a composer, various commissions have resulted in performances for the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors Association, the Cotton Bowl, and the Tournament of Roses Parade. His works are published with TRN Music Publisher, RBC Music Publisher, and Arranger’s Publishing Company.
Rhea maintains a nationally active schedule as conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He has been extended invitations to membership in both the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu. Currently on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association, he additionally holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association; Texas Bandmasters Association; College Band Directors National Association; Big 12 Band Directors Association; World Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles; American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers; Phi Mu Alpha; Phi Kappa Phi; Pi Kappa Lambda; Kappa Delta Pi; and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi.
In July 1999, Timothy Rhea was awarded the Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year for the state of Texas from Phi Beta Mu. In December 2000, Dr. Ray Bowen, former President of Texas A&M University, presented Dr. Rhea with the President’s Meritorious Service Award to Texas A&M University. |
