David Needham

David Needham is currently serving as the Director of Bands and Department Chair of Humanities at Carter High School. His primary responsibilities include directing the Carter High School Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, and the Carter High School Marching Hornet Band. Mr. Needham offers academic courses in A.P. Music Theory and Music History and assists with the 6-8 grade bands at Carter Middle School.

 

Since assuming this role, the Carter Band program has received consistent superior ratings at CPA Concert Assessment and regional marching band competitions and was voted “Best Band” at The Gatlinburg “Fantasy of Lights” Parade. The Marching Hornet Band has been invited to perform at multiple College Football Games alongside the University of Tennessee “Pride” of the Southland Band in Neyland Stadium in 2022, The Carson Newman Marching Eagles in 2023, and the UTC Marching Mocs in 2024. Several Carter students have earned placements in the ETSBOA All-East Clinic, the TNMEA All-State Clinic, and have toured Europe with the Tennessee Ambassadors Tour. In March 2025, the Carter Band performed at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios Orlando. The band program has grown from 48 to 100 members during Mr. Needham’s tenure.

 

Previous to his tenure at Carter High School, Mr. Needham received three bachelor's degrees in Instrumental Music Education, Clarinet Performance, and Music and Culture, along with a M.M. in Music Education, all from the University of Tennessee. During his time at UTK, Mr. Needham served at Assistant Drum Major of the Pride of the Southland Band, Principal Clarinet of the UT Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, and Undergraduate Grading Assistant for the Musicology Department. Mr. Needham studied educational research with Dr. David Royse, and undergraduate conducting with Dr. Gary Sousa, Dr. Michael Stewart, and Dr. Fuller Lyon.

 

Mr. Needham is currently completing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University where is developing a dissertation titled “Instrumental Music Education’s Impact on Student Motivation, Academic Performance, and School Attendance in Secondary Education In a Post-COVID World."

 

As a performer, Mr. Needham is a clarinet student of Roann Romines, and has performed recitals and concerts in various counties including France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium, performed in Master Classes lead by Dr. Howard Klug and Dr. Jeremy Reynolds, and studied with Dr. Robert Spring and Dr. Julia Hinen at the Belgium Clarinet Academy for two summers.

 

As a conductor, Mr. Needham has instructed a student leadership and Drum Major Academy for East Tennessee high school students alongside George W. Hayden for the past 13 years. Mr. Needham has sought to further his wind band conducting knowledge by participating in Conducting Symposiums lead by Dr. John Zastoupil and Dr. Michael Hathcock.

 

Mr. Needham holds professional memberships in the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Tennessee Music Education Association, Tennessee Bandmaster Association, National Association for Music Education, and the Servant Leadership Association for Music

 

Mr. Needham has been married to his beautiful wife Brittany since 2022 and has two wonderful Pomsky puppies named Benny and Sammy. Mr. Needham is a proud member of the Carter Community and passionate about serving the Carter Families and students.