David DeVoto
David DeVoto is a director of orchestras at Allen High School. Mr. DeVoto earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas in 1994 and his Master of Education Administration degree from Lamar University in 2022. While at UNT, he was a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and String Orchestra and was a student of Anshel Brusilow, James Kjelland, and Jeff Bradetich. Starting in 1997, he served as director of the Lake Highlands Junior High Orchestras in Richardson ISD. In 2002, Mr. DeVoto became the director of the Allen High School Orchestra. AHS Orchestras have placed in the final round of the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition a total of twelve times and the Allen HS Symphony Orchestra was selected as the TMEA Invited Full Orchestra in 2020. The Allen High School Symphony Orchestra was invited to perform at the 60th and 75th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. In 2014, the Allen HS Orchestra received the American Prize in Orchestral Performance(High School). During Mr. DeVoto’s tenure, the AHS program has grown from 2 Student Orchestras to 100 Student Orchestras. In addition to orchestra, Mr. DeVoto helped to create music theory, music history, and composition for the International Baccalaureate program at Allen HS in 2006. He has served as Orchestra Division Chair for UIL Region III and Region Vice-President and Orchestra Division Chair for UIL Region XXV. Mr. DeVoto has also served as a UIL Orchestra PML Committee Chair, as a TMAA Committee Member on Standards of Adjudication and Performance Practices, and has served as a board member of the Texas Orchestra Directors Association, distinguished as Past President. Mr. DeVoto holds memberships in Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and Mu Omicron, In September 2000, he was a recipient of the Minyard’s “First Class Teacher”award. Mr. DeVoto was the recipient of the 2003-2004 Standing Ovation Award given each year by the Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra to the person who has made a significant contribution to the Arts in Allen. In 2016, Mr. DeVoto was named a UIL Sponsor Excellence Award winner. Mr. DeVoto was named the recipient of the inaugural Kathy Fishburn Excellence in Orchestra award by the Mu Omicron Executive Board in 2023.