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Biographical Information

After teaching music for 29 years in the Scituate Public Schools, David Neves was appointed the Director of Fine and;Performing Arts for the Needham Public Schools in Needham, Massachusetts in 2005. In 2006, Neves completed his doctorate in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University. In 2005, Neves was elected president of the Eastern Division of MENC (Music Educators National Conference) for the National Association for Music Education, and served on the National Executive Board for NAfME/MENC from 2007 through 2011. Neves continues to focus his work, both in Needham and throughout the MENC Eastern Division, on ensuring that all of the arts are fully recognized as true academic core subjects that all students must have opportunities in school to excel in. Neves has presented workshops on music and arts education throughout the New England states with this focus in mind.Most recently, Neves was appointed as Chair of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Symphony Hall Scholars, a foundation dedicated to expanding All-State caliber music experiences for all students, regardless of their own personal socio-economic standing. Neves's previous accolades include being named the Scituate Teacher of the Year in 1988 and 2000 and the Rhode Island State Teacher of the Year in 2002. In June 2017, Dr. Neves retired from full time work in Music Education, after 12 years leading the Needham Massachusetts Fine & Performing Arts Department. Currently he is working independently as a Music Education Consultant, saxophone instructor, and wind band conductor/clinician. Dr. Neves is also the current director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensembles, where he conducts the premiere group, Symphonic Winds.

Personal Message

When I was named a Milken Educator in 1991, I was totally immersed in making Music Education as important as possible and as legitimate as possible. Over the past ten years, the recognition I received through the Milken Award has led to many other opportunities to have an impact on education in Rhode Island far beyond my own school district and far beyond just Music Education. I encourage all Milken Educators to use the recognition you receive as a stepping stone to enable you to have a positive impact on your school district, state and national programs to enable many more students to achieve the excellence that, no doubt, you have given to your own. Only by making our influence felt beyond our classroom doors, can we foster a dramatic improvement in the current state of public school support and education in our country.