STARNES JOINS GIFT OF MUSIC SCHOLASTIC TEAM

The Gift of Music is excited to welcome David Starnes to our team as our Scholastic Partnerships Development Specialist.   

At Gift of Music, Starnes will be fostering partnerships with key music educators at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels, helping to ensure that the programs offered by The Gift of Music are accessible and beneficial to music students and programs in the area.  Starnes hopes that his “experience as a veteran music educator can offer a sense of familiarity to music educators around the southeast” adding that he looks forward to “providing educational opportunities through one-on-one conversations, student interactions, and professional development opportunities for directors.” 

Starnes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from 34 years in music education as a director, adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and creative designer. Among his career highlights, he was the founding Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School, leading the program to national prominence including the Bands of America AAA National Champion in 2004.  He later served as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University in North Carolina including the widely recognized “Pride of the Mountains” marching band.  Ensembles led by Starnes have performed on some of the nation’s largest stages including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, The Midwest Clinic, Bands of America Regional and National Championships, and the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA.  In 2019 he was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame. 

About joining Gift of Music, Starnes says he is thrilled to join “a local organization that masterfully bridges the gap between the business of music and the classroom. It is my intention to create relationships with school music programs at the elementary, middle, high school and collegiate levels as well as with their dedicated directors. Commitment, trust, reliability, and long-term relationships are pertinent to the growth and support of music education. My partnership with the Gift of Music serves as my belief in the mission and future of music education where it truly ‘takes a village’ to ensure that every child has access and opportunity to participate in a school music program.”   

The Gift of Music’s mission, as Starnes points out, is “centered upon saying ‘yes’ to a child who wants to participate in music education by providing direct access to a musical instrument while supporting their local school music program. Music education should be inclusive to and for all who wish to participate.” 

Starnes can be reached at dstarnes@giftofmusic.org