More Information About David R. Sears

David R. Sears has been composing and arranging music for professionals, schools and churches for over 30 years. Other activities in his diverse musical career have included teaching (over 20 years as a high school music educator), performing (on tour, television, movies, and recording), conducting and production. These many experiences have uniquely prepared him in diverse circumstances such as:

• Music Director (or Music Conductor as indicated) –
  • The Temptations
  • GRAMMY Preservation event saluting the music of New Orleans featuring Kevin Whalum, Ivan & Ian Neville, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Coolio and Kirk Whalum
    • Also wrote musical arrangements in most circumstances including the two listed above
  • Conductor of 2008 Starry Night orchestra honoring Sir George Martin with artists Jeff Beck, Tom Jones & William Joseph; Music Director was multi GRAMMY Winner David Foster
  • President's segment of the 53rd GRAMMY Awards Telecast (2010) with Esperanza Spalding
     
• Producer –
  • Annual GRAMMY Salute to Jazz (musical component)
  • Album by Ron McCurdy "Once Again For The First Time"
  • Music on the President's segment of the 49th Annual GRAMMY Telecast
  • Events featuring such artists as Yolanda Adams, Harry Belafonte, Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Curtis Mayfield, James Moody, Oscar Peterson, Tito Puente, Bob Seger, Horace Silver
  • Every GRAMMY Jazz album (annually) since 1995
  • 1st annual GRAMMY in the Schools Live! event featuring Mindi Abair, Brian Culberson & Boney James
    • Also conceived the event
  • 2nd annual GRAMMY in the Schools Live! event featuring Sara Bareilles
  • 3rd annual GRAMMY in the Schools Live! event featuring Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington & Anthony Hamilton
  • 4th annual GRAMMY in the Schools Live! event featuring Juanes
  • GRAMMY's Music Educator Award (2013 inaugural year)
  • GRAMMY Cultural Exchange Tour featuring musicians from Europe and Asia along with alums from the GRAMMY Band
     
• Musician (instrumental & vocal) –
  • Larry Carlton, Andy Griffith, James Jamerson, Danny Kaye, Hugo Montenegro, Lee Ritenhour, D.J. Rogers, Tom Scott, Mary Wells, Jonathan Winters, Ben Vereen
     
• Former Students –
  • Will "Dog" Abers – bass, Justin Porée – percussion, Asdru Sierra – trumpet/lead vocals, (members of Ozomatli) multi GRAMMY Winners
  • Manny Marroquin – audio engineer (Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys, John Legend, John Mayer, Usher, Kanye West, Natasha Bedingfield) multi GRAMMY Winner
  • Ron Blake – trumpet (Green Day, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)
  • Marcus Coleman – piano/composer (Euge Groove, Brian McKnight, Monica)
  • Abe Laboriel, Jr. – drums (Paul McCartney, Sting)
  • Mike Elizondo – bass/producer/composer (Dr. Dre, Eminem)
  • Warryn Campbell – producer/bass (Yolanda Adams, Dru Hill, Mary Mary)
  • Willie Jones III – drums (Kurt Elling, Eric Reed, Hank Jones, Roy Hargrove, Arturo Santoval)
  • Spencer Bean – guitar (Gladys Knight & the Pips)
  • Craig T. Cooper – guitar/composer/artist (DeBarge, Gerald Lavert)
  • Gerry Brown – audio engineer (Stevie Wonder, The Laws Family)
  • J.J. Wiggins (The Duke Ellington Orchestra)

His professional services have been provided in venues, studios and educational institutions across the United States and Europe.

Professional affiliations: The Recording Academy, American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), African Diaspora Sacred Music & Musicians, Hollywood Master Chorale, Tanglewood II Symposium member, Young Musicians Foundation, Los Angeles Secondary Music Teachers Association, Jazz Education Network, Support Music Coalition, CREATE California Coalition, Los Angeles Philharmonic Youth Orchestra L.A. (YOLA).