The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) has announced the appointment of Dr. David Gaines to the position of Second Vice President.

Dr. Gaines was elected to the executive position by a majority vote of NYSSMA's Executive Council at its annual meeting in January. He has previously served NYSSMA as the Nassau County Zone Representative, chairperson of band and wind ensemble music for the NYSSMA manual, and remains active with NYSSMA as an All State and non-All State Brass Adjudicator.

In his new role as Second Vice President, Dr. Gaines will be responsible for all student-related activities. He works closely with the other officers, the 15 zone representatives and a variety of committee chairpersons from throughout New York State. These activities include the scheduling of over 130 solo and major organizations festivals throughout the State and overseeing the selection of approximately 900 students to the All-State Bands, Orchestras, Choruses, and Jazz Ensembles. These ensembles annually perform at the NYSSMA Winter Conference at Rochester in December.

For the last 21 years, Dr. Gaines has served as band director at Massapequa High School. During that time, his ensembles have routinely performed at a high level of achievement, consistently earning Gold or Gold with Distinction ratings at adjudicated festivals.

Dr. Gaines has earned degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Queens College, George Mason University and Columbia University, where his specialties included wind conducting and instrumental music education. He has also taught courses in music education at Queens College.

NYSSMA, the New York State School Music Association, is the largest state affiliate of MENC, the National Association for Music Education. The mission of NYSSMA is to advocate and improve the education in music of all people by promoting appropriate music activities and programs in the schools and communities throughout New York State.