David Starnes

State and Region Coordinator

Mr. David Starnes served as the Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA) from 2020-2023, prior to his retirement from a 34-year career as a music educator. Under his direction, the Chamber Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2023 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Conference. He served as Assistant Professor and Director of Athletic Bands in the School of Music at Western Carolina University (NC) from 2011-2020 and was the founding Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain HS from 2000-2011. He currently serves as the Program Coordinator for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (IL) as well as the Director of Music at Acworth United Methodist Church (GA) where he conducts the Chancel Choir and orchestra.

During his tenure at Western Carolina University, Starnes was responsible for all aspects of the 500 plus member Pride of the Mountains Marching Band that performed at the Bands of America (BOA) Regional Championships in Atlanta, 2011 and St. Louis, 2018, the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis 2012 and 2015 and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2014 and 2019.

While the Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain HS, they were a 6-time national finalist at the BOA Grand National Championships, named the 2004 AAA National Champion and a four-time Regional Champion. In 2003, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded them the prestigious Sudler Shield of Excellence. The band appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005 and the Kennesaw Mountain HS Wind Symphony performed at The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in 2006.

Mr. Starnes is sought out nationally and internationally as an adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor and creative designer. He served as an Education Consultant at Music for All from 1995-2021. While fulfilling this role, his duties included serving as the Program Director for The Honor Band of America, which appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2022. Mr. Starnes was inducted into the BOA Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019.


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