David Bertman
David Bertman is the Director of the "Spirit of Houston" Cougar Marching Band/Cougar Brass and the conductor of the Moores School of Music Symphonic Winds at the University of Houston. Mr. Bertman works with Associate Professor of Music Tom Bennett in the University of Houston Band Department. The Moores School of Music Band Program and Instrumental Education are recognized throughout the country through recordings and successful music educators in the field. The "Spirit of Houston" Cougar Marching Band has grown to over 250 members and marched in the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime show produced by MTV. The MSM Symphonic Winds will be featured on a new CD of Leroy Osmon's Music in the summer recorded by Mark Records. The MSM Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Tom Bennett will have a new Grainger CD out in February, also on the label of Mark Records. In addition to this, the Moores School of Music Wind Ensemble will be making a CD of the music of Giannini on the Naxos label.
Prior to his appointment at the University of Houston, Mr. Bertman was Associate Director of Bands at Haltom High School in the Birdville Independent School District for thirteen years. Raised in Oklahoma, Bertman received his B.A. in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Oklahoma, studying with Gene Thrailkill, William Wakefield, and Roland Barrett. Since 1987, Mr. Bertman has been a student of Eddie Green, Professor Emeritus University of Houston Band Director. In 1997, Mr. Bertman earned his Masters Degree in Applied Music-Conducting from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Haltom High School Bands received numerous awards, including being named the 1993 Texas 5A Honor Band, a 1992 State Marching Band Finalist, and a performance at the 1993 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Haltom High School Bands consistently received superior ratings and top placements at marching contests and concert festivals.
Mr. Bertman was named Haltom High School "Teacher of the Year" in the 1999-2000 school year. Mr. Bertman received the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Faculty Award in 2003 and the Bill Yeoman Special Contributions Award in January 2004. Mr. Bertman is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, as well as Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Mu Alpha. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. In addition to his duties at the University of Houston, Mr. Bertman is a brass caption head for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and works with an instructional team that includes Mark McGahey, Director of Bands Keller High School.
