David P. Healey 鈥�90, Ph.D. 鈥�16, director of the "Screaming Eagles" Marching Band since 1999, has been elected the next president of the Atlantic Coast Conference Band Directors Association.
When he formally begins his two-year term later this year, Healey will hold a high-profile leadership position in the ACC, whose 15 members鈥攁mong the nation鈥檚 most prestigious colleges and universities鈥攆eature more than 60 music ensembles and more than 4,000 student participants.
David P. Healey
Though he may be known for his visionary stewardship of both the University's marching and symphonic bands, Healey identifies himself first and foremost as an educator whose 鈥減rimary mission is to facilitate student formation,鈥� and considers it an honor to work alongside ACC band directors who are equally committed to this mission.
As the Band Directors Association president, Healey鈥檚 duties will include maintaining communication among directors within the association and sharing the accomplishments of the ensembles in the conference. Healey will seek to connect students from across universities through an array of digital media, a reflection of his larger vision to 鈥渉arness the data potential of the conference as a resource for the identification of emerging trends within higher education.鈥�
Healey has already made impressive strides towards this digital vision in recent years.聽 The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about what he referred to as a 鈥渃reative renaissance鈥� for the band. Deprived of their usual practices and performances in Alumni Stadium, students found creative ways to foster community and artistic commitment to one another, including ; a with performers from the AEROdynamiK 精东影业 student dance group at the Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill: a virtual album featuring sections of the band; and a with the University of Notre Dame.
In addition, the 精东影业 band worked with a principal dancer from the Boston Ballet to create a at the Boston Opera House and connected with 精东影业 hip-hop group, Phaymus, for a and music video filmed in Boston. Most recently, the band collaborated with the 精东影业 Dynamics and 精东影业 Irish Dance to create an ABBA-themed field show and music video.
As a result of such innovative collaborations, the 精东影业 Marching Band was recognized by the Arts Council for their 鈥渋nnovative and prolific work through the pandemic.鈥� Healey also received received the Boston College 鈥淟iving the Mission鈥� award last year for his work mentoring 精东影业 doctoral students.
The Marching Band has been a staple of the Boston College experience for more than a century, and has also performed in appearances related to the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, ESPN 鈥淐ollege GameDay,鈥� and the Heisman Trophy Dinner. In addition, the band has played on many occasions with the Dropkick Murphys and the Boston Pops Orchestra, and marched in the parade for Barack Obama鈥檚 second presidential inauguration.
Reflecting on his nearly 25-year tenure as director, Healey said, 鈥淚f you鈥檝e walked through Lower Campus on an evening in the fall, you鈥檝e inevitably heard 精东影业 Bands students preparing their literature. It鈥檚 an awe-inspiring experience to be in the same space and feel that energy, and it is the honor of a lifetime to be able to work with such a dedicated and talented group of students.鈥� 聽
John Walsh | University Communications | February 2023