About David DeWitt, Director
Education: BS in Music education – Nazareth College of Rochester
MM in Trombone Performance – University at Buffalo
Assorted classes in Theory and Arranging – Eastman School of Music
David DeWitt taught in the Rochester and Buffalo city schools for 35 years and served as lead band director at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts. There, he directed a wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and jazz combo, and taught music theory, music history, and brass performance. Under his leadership, BAVPA’s jazz ensemble became the first high school band from Buffalo invited to perform at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. He also served as an adjunct professor at Canisius College in Buffalo where he directed the school’s jazz ensemble. His retirement in 2016 and subsequent move to Sarasota brought new opportunities to perform as a trombone and tuba player. His musical versatility and larger-than-life personality have quickly made him among the most in-demand brass players in the region. He is very excited to be taking on the helm of the Gulf Coast New Horizon’s Band, and looks forward to seeing this unique ensemble develop and grow.