Mr. RYAN GILBERT

Mr. David Semones has been a music educator within the Virginia and Tennessee public school systems for almost twenty years - teaching at both middle and high school levels. 2024-2025 will be his first year joining the JSMS Band Staff. He also currently serves as the athletic band coordinator at King University (Bristol, TN) and as an adjunct instructor for graduate conducting at Messiah University (Mechanicsburg, PA). Mr. Semones received the Master of Music in Wind Conducting degree from Messiah University in 2023 and the Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education from East Tennessee State University in 2004.

While at ETSU, Mr. Semones was a two-year drum major for the Marching Bucs. In August of 2013, he was published in The Instrumentalist with his article, "Making the Most of Drum Majors." He is an active researcher in the field of music education and has presented director sessions at state music conferences. His professional interests include: the relationship of music education to student academic, emotional, and social success, social-emotional learning strategies, conducting techniques, and music advocacy. His classroom environment is centered around rigor, respect, and relationship-building. He has twice been honored as "Teacher of the Year." In 2023, he was nominated by students and awarded the Everlasting Impact Award at Tennessee High School.

Under Mr. Semones' leadership while the Band Director at Tennessee High School, the band earned the Tennessee Bandmasters Sweepstakes Award multiple times for superior ratings in marching and symphonic band. The Mighty Viking Band was also a top-10 finalist (8th place overall) in the WCU Tournament of Champions in 2022. His bands have traveled and performed in national parades and concerts since he began teaching.

His professional affiliations include NAfME, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, NEA, TMEA, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (ETSBOA), ASBDA (American School Band Directors Association) and the Tennessee Bandmasters Association (TBA). He is actively sought after as a clinician, adjudicator, music arranger, and marching band drill-designer in Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. When Mr. Semones is not teaching, he enjoys camping, going on cruises, and spending time with his family, which includes: his beautiful wife and two children, four cats, one dog, and a snake.