A native of the Pacific Northwest, Dr. David McLemore is the Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Central Washington University, where his teaching duties include applied tuba and euphonium lessons, directing the CWU Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and courses in low brass methods, brass pedagogy, and the history of rock and roll. Dr. McLemore earned a Bachelor of Music in tuba performance from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music in both Tuba and Chamber Music Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance with a minor in music theory from the University of Georgia. His principal teachers include David Zerkel, Fritz Kaenzig, Norm Pearson, Jim Self, Warren Deck, and Richard Pasko. 

Dr. McLemore maintains an active performance career as an ensemble musician and solo performer. He is the Principal Tubist of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, having previously performed with the Macon, Valdosta, and Georgia Symphony Orchestras. As a chamber musician, Dr. McLemore regularly performs with the Central Washington University and Yakima Symphony Orchestra brass quintets, as well as the Backburner Tuba Euphonium Collective. In addition, he performs yearly faculty tuba/euphonium recitals at Central Washington University and regularly participates in “Musica Nova” – a series of contemporary music concerts at CWU.

Besides his orchestral and chamber work, Dr. McLemore is in demand as a soloist and pedagogue. As a clinician, he has presented at the 2019 NAfME Northwest Division Conference and 2019 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference, as well as various residencies and clinics for high school and collegiate low brass players in the Pacific Northwest. As a performer, he’s been featured at numerous regional and international conferences — most recently the 2020 Northwest and Midwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conferences. In collaboration with the CWU Tuba-Euphonium studio, Dr. McLemore served as host for the 2018 NWRTEC conference. He has competed in numerous national and international competitions, frequently emerging as a prize winner. He won 1st prize Artist Tuba in the 2010 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference solo competition, 1st prize Artist Tuba in the 2012 Leonard Falcone International Tuba-Euphonium Festival solo competition, and 1st prize Brass in the 2012 MTNA National solo competition. More recently, he won the Grand prize at the 2014 International Women’s Brass Conference solo competition and 3rd prize tuba at the 2014 Jeju International Brass Competition in Jeju, South Korea.