High School Band All-State Festival

Guest Conductor

Dr. Timothy Rhea 

Director of Bands and Music  

Activities at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Timothy B. Rhea is Director of Bands and Music Activities at Texas A&M University.  As Director of  Bands, he leads the university band program, serves  as conductor of the University Wind Symphony, and  coordinates the  nationally  famous  “Fightin’  Texas  Aggie  Band.”   As  Director  of  Music  Activities,  he  administratively oversees the activities of the band,  jazz,  orchestra,  and  choral  programs,  serving approximately 1200 students.  Dr. Rhea is currently  in his thirtieth year at Texas A&M University. 

Dr.  Rhea  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 as a private conducting student of Eldon Janzen.  He earned the Master of  Music in Conducting from Texas Tech University where he studied with the late James  Sudduth. Dr. Rhea earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Composition  from  the University of Houston.    In 1999, he was awarded  the Texas Outstanding  Young  Bandmaster  of  the  Year  from  Phi Beta  Mu.    In  December  of  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.  Dr. Rhea recently  oversaw the planning and construction of the Texas A&M University Music Activities  Center,  which  opened  in  2019.    In  this  facility,  the  Dr.  Timothy  B.  Rhea  Concert  Rehearsal  Hall  was  named  in  his  honor.    In  the  spring  of  2020,  he  received  the  Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Administration  from Texas A&M University. 

Dr. Rhea was named conductor of the Texas A&M Wind Symphony in 1995.  During  his tenure at Texas A&M University, Dr. Rhea has conducted the Wind Symphony for  conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association (seven times), the College Band  Directors  National  Association  (two  times),  the  Midwest  International  Band  &  Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, and the  American  Bandmasters  Association  (2009  convention  host),  as  well  as  in  settings  such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center of Dallas and the  Wortham  Center  of  Houston,  and  on  concert  tours  that have  taken  the  band  throughout the state of Texas.  During five European tours Dr. Rhea has conducted  the  Wind  Symphony  during  performances in  Ireland,  England,  Austria,  Germany,  Italy, and the Czech Republic.  Under his direction, the Wind Symphony has released  several internationally distributed recordings with Mark Records of New York.    In  addition to conducting, Rhea maintains a very successful career as an arranger and  composer.  His  output  of compositions and arrangements numbers  over 300, with  over 50 publications.

Dr. Rhea’s tenure with the Texas Aggie Band has included performances throughout  the United States.  In addition to the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC  and  the  Texas Governor’s  Inaugural in Austin, Aggie Band  bowl appearances  have  included the Holiday, Cotton, Sugar, Independence, Chick-fil-A, Liberty, Texas, Music  City, Gator, Belk and Alamo.  Dr. Rhea has served as the music arranger and a drill  designer for the Aggie Band for almost 30 years.  The Aggie Band was a recipient of  the  Sudler  Trophy  from  the  John  Philip  Sousa  Foundation during  Dr.  Rhea’s  association with the organization. 

Dr.  Rhea  maintains  an internationally  active  schedule  as  conductor,  clinician,  and  adjudicator.  He  is  former  President of  the  American  Bandmasters  Association,  is  currently Vice President/Secretary and a member of the Executive Board of The John  Philip Sousa Foundation, serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Music  Education,  and  was  formerly  on  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  National  Band  Association. Dr. Rhea additionally  holds memberships and  positions in numerous  professionally related organizations.   

Dr. Rhea resides in College Station with his wife, Jennifer, a former administrator in  the  College  Station  Independent  School  District, who  now  supervises student teachers for Texas A&M University.