Director of Bands and Music Activities
Dr. Timothy B. Rhea is Director of Bands and Music Activities at Texas A&M University. As Director of Bands, he leads the university band program, serves as conductor of the University Wind Symphony, and coordinates the nationally famous “Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.” As Director of Music Activities, he administratively oversees the activities of the jazz, orchestra, and choral programs. Dr. Rhea is currently in his twenty-ninth year at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Rhea grew up in the music programs of the Texas public schools. He earned the Bachelor of Music Education with honors from the University of Arkansas as a private conducting student of Eldon Janzen. He earned the Master of Music in Conducting from Texas Tech University where he studied with the late James Sudduth. Dr. Rhea earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Composition from the University of Houston. In 1999, he was awarded the Texas Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year from Phi Beta Mu. In December of 2000, Dr. Ray Bowen, former President of Texas A&M University, presented Dr. Rhea with the President’s Meritorious Service Award to Texas A&M University. He more recently oversaw the planning and construction of the new Texas A&M University Music Activities Center, which opened in 2019. In this facility, the Dr. Timothy B. Rhea Concert Rehearsal Hall was named in his honor. In the spring of 2020, he received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Administration from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Rhea was named conductor of the Texas A&M Wind Symphony in 1995. During his tenure at Texas A&M University, Dr. Rhea has conducted the Wind Symphony for conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association (seven times), the College Band Directors National Association (two times), the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, and the American Bandmasters Association (2009 convention host), as well as in settings such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center of Dallas and the Wortham Center of Houston, and on concert tours that have taken the band throughout the state of Texas. During five European tours Dr. Rhea has conducted the Wind Symphony during performances in Ireland, England, Austria, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic. Under his direction, the Wind Symphony has released several internationally distributed recordings with Mark Records of New York. In addition to conducting, Rhea maintains a very successful career as an arranger and composer. His output of compositions and arrangements numbers over 300, with over 50 publications.
Dr. Rhea’s tenure with the Texas Aggie Band has included performances throughout the United States. In addition to the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC and the Texas Governor’s Inaugural in Austin, Aggie Band bowl appearances have included the Holiday, Cotton, Sugar, Independence, Chick-fil-A, Liberty, Texas, Music City, Gator, Belk and Alamo. Dr. Rhea has served as the music arranger and a drill designer for the Aggie Band for almost 30 years. The Aggie Band was a recipient of the Sudler Trophy from the John Philip Sousa Foundation during Dr. Rhea’s association with the organization.
Dr. Rhea maintains an internationally active schedule as conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. He is former President of the American Bandmasters Association, is currently Vice President/Secretary and a member of the Executive Board of The John Philip Sousa Foundation, and was formerly on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association. Dr. Rhea additionally holds memberships and positions in numerous professionally related organizations.