2024 NZNMEA Honor Band 

David Betancourt has been the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California since 1998.  He is the conductor for the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, Pop/Rock Ensemble and facilitates the Cerritos College Drumline.  Beyond performing as the showcase ensemble at various jazz and band festivals, the bands at Cerritos College take great pride in performing in countless civic events and participating in social outreach at hospitals and shelters. Dr. Betancourt facilitated the collaboration with the youth organization Impulse, which led to the addition of numerous courses as well as the development of a national reputation for Cerritos College in the Drum and Bugle Corps international circuit. He was chair of the music department from 2008-2011 and was the director of the California State University Wind Ensemble from 2008-2011.  In addition, Dr. Betancourt was a supervisor for the Master of Arts in Teaching at the University of Southern California since the inception of the MAT program.  Previous to his appointments in Southern California, Dr. Betancourt was Assistant Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University. He began his music education career as the Director of Instrumental Music of Hopedale Junior/Senior High School in Hopedale, Massachusetts.

Dr. Betancourt has been the coordinator of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTX) at Cerritos College since 2012, developing an extensively vibrant program of professional learning opportunities for the entire college faculty. As a result, the CTX has become a resource for professional learning centers on university and community college campuses throughout the state.  Dr. Betancourt has presented on professional learning topics at California Community Colleges Success Network events, the Professional and Organizational Development Network Conference (international), the California Community College Council for Staff and Organizational Development Conference, the Basic Skills Initiative Leadership Institute, and numerous colleges.    He is also the chair for the Cerritos College Academic Excellence Committee while simultaneously sitting on numerous campus committees.

Dr. Betancourt holds a DMA in music education from the University of Southern California, an MM in instrumental conducting from Northern Arizona University, and a BM in music education and performance from Berklee College of Music.  He has arranged for wind band, jazz ensemble, marching band, latin, and pop genres.  Dr. Betancourt is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, NAfME, CBDNA, CMEA, CBDA, ITG, CMS, SCSBOA, and the Immediate Past President of the Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC).