Music Educator, Advocate, and Community Leader

For more than 25 years, David Triplett-Rosa has dedicated his career to inspiring students through the power of music. A versatile and passionate educator, David has taught middle and high school band, chorus, and orchestra in diverse school settings — from Title I campuses to high-achieving suburban schools. His mission has always been clear: ensure every student, regardless of background, has access to a meaningful and high-quality music education.

David currently serves as Director of Bands at Barrington Middle School, where his ensembles consistently earn Superior ratings at district assessments. Under his leadership, the program has grown exponentially — from just 70 students to nearly 300 — and now includes a thriving jazz band. His students actively participate in the FBA Solo and Ensemble Festival, submitting nearly 100 solo entries annually. In recognition of his dedication and impact, David was honored with the prestigious Tom Bishop Award at the 2020 Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) Conference.

A hallmark of David’s teaching philosophy is going above and beyond to support every student. In 2011, he collaborated with Dr. Ann Darrow of Florida State University to modify a trumpet stand for a student born with limb differences — a project that later became a featured presentation, “Modifying Instruments for Students with Disabilities,” at the 2013 FMEA Conference. His commitment to inclusion earned him national recognition when he received the Grammy Foundation Music Educator Award in 2011, along with $10,000 to support the band program at Thomas Jefferson High School.

David’s contributions extend beyond the classroom. As Band Liaison to the Ybor Chamber of Commerce, he partnered with Executive Director Lori Rosso to co-author a YCDC grant for the Snow on 7th Parade. This initiative has generated over $100,000 in funding over the past decade, directly benefiting middle and high school bands throughout Hillsborough County.

A passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, David founded the GSA at Barrington Middle School and co-presented “The Alphabet Soup of the LGBTQIA+ Student” at the 2019 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The session, developed in collaboration with Anthony Oakley and the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, tackled pressing topics such as gender-inclusive language and equitable travel policies for all students. In 2022, his efforts were recognized when he was named Teacher of the Year at Barrington.

David holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Florida State University, where he also earned a Clarinet Performance Certificate. He was inducted as an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi Gamma Nu Chapter for his leadership in promoting equity and inclusion within Florida’s music community.

Outside of the classroom, David continues to lead and inspire through his roles as founder and artistic director of both the Tampa Bay Pride Band and Tampa Bay Symphonic Winds. He is also an active concert band and solo/ensemble adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association, a former district officer, past board member of the Pride Band Alliance, Hillsborough County Supervising Teacher, and a highly sought-after music education consultant across the state.

David is a proud member of NAfME, FMEA, FBA, and the NEA, and continues to champion music as a tool for connection, creativity, and community building.