Cerritos College

DR. DAVID BETANCOURT
Department Chair
(Full-time Faculty)
Band, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra Professor 
562.860.2451 ext. 2631
dbetancourt@cerritos.edu

David Betancourt is department chair, and in his 10th year as the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California.  He is the conductor for the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Community Band, Orchestra, Community Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble.  He also directs the Pep Band and Pop/Rock Ensemble.  Members include junior high, high school, college, and community members as well as professional musicians and members who come from outside the college district to perform with one of the fine ensembles.  He facilitated the collaboration with the youth organization Impulse, which lead 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. Previous to his appointment at Cerritos College, 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 is also the current director for the California State University, Los Angeles Wind Ensemble.  Previously, he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University.  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 is an avid music educator and is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator of concert, jazz, and marching bands.  He also has arranging and composing credits in the wind band, jazz ensemble, latin, and pop genres.  He has performed with such notables as Roy Hargrove, Tony Hart, Geoff Keezer, and Ingrid Jensen.  Dr. Betancourt is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, MENC, CBDNA, MACCC, CMEA, and ITG.