David P. Healey, Ph.D.
Marching Bands Director
David
Healey has been serving as Director of the Boston College Marching Band
since 1999 and Director of the Boston College Symphonic Band since
2003. As a sophomore chemistry major at Boston College, he founded the
jazz ensemble “BC bOp!” and served as its president for two years before
being honored with the Creativity Award from the Office of the Dean for
Student Development for “outstanding innovation and leadership.” Dr.
Healey later served as president of the BC Marching Band, where he
played a key role in securing a full-time Director of Bands position at
Boston College.
Upon graduation from BC in 1990, Dr. Healey worked as an applications
chemist at Orion Research for three years before pursuing a masters
degree in Music Education from the New England Conservatory and serving
as a brass instructor with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps.
While at NEC, Dr. Healey studied with Dr. Richard Colwell and Frank
Battisti. Following his graduation from NEC in 1995, Dr. Healey designed
and coordinated the Boston College Marching Band performance at the
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and later served as Director of Bands and
Assistant Professor of Music at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL.
He also served as a music education consultant for the Midori
Foundation and the New York City Ballet.
Under Dr. Healey’s leadership, the Boston College Marching Band has
revitalized the college game day experience and been invited to perform
for the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics, ESPN College GameDay, and
the Heisman Trophy Dinner in New York City. The Marching Band has also
performed Stars & Stripes Forever with the Boston Pops Orchestra
under the direction of Keith Lockhart and joined the Dropkick Murphys
onstage for multiple concert performances of Shipping Up to Boston. In
2013, Dr. Healey guided the Boston College Marching Band through its
first appearance in the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington DC.
In addition to his work with the Eagles Marching Band, Dr. Healey
conducts an annual concert of the Boston College Symphonic Band at the
Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.
Dr. Healey received his doctor of philosophy degree from Boston
College in 2016, and he remains active as an adjudicator, clinician, and
guest conductor. He is an avid cyclist and runner and has bicycled
across the United States from Seattle to Boston, run to the top of Mount
Washington, and completed the Boston, Chicago, and New York Marathons.
Dr. Healey and his wife, Joy (BC ’92), reside in Hull, MA with their
five children: Daria, Max, Alyssa, Troy, and Victor.
Lauren Busa
Assistant Director of Bands