Get There:
Leading Young Musicians on the Field

Finding Tempo

Demille Davis spent his time at Southeastern with the Spirit of the Southland, the Southeastern Marching Band. Graduating from the university in Fall 2025, he left with a list of accolades and experiences that continue to contribute to his success.

“This is exactly what I want to do. I want to teach music. I want to be a band director one day,” Davis said.

Playing the tuba—a decision he made to “show other people and himself what he could do”—is only the cusp of what Davis achieved in his studies at Southeastern. A euphoniumist who plays several other instruments, he took his outgoing personality to the admissions office as an orientation leader and remains an active member of the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity on campus.

Davis received the Jackie Dale Green Award and the Heart of the Lion Award in two separate departments. Although his lineage is full of musicians—both his parents were in their high school marching band—he is the first in his family to study music education as an undergraduate.

His mentorship of freshmen and other members of the marching band took him from the gridiron and concert halls to the classroom as a student teacher. Following graduation, Davis’ goal was to become a high school band director.

Stepping into the Director’s Stand

Davis was hired first as an interim, then as the full-time band director for Loranger High School in Spring 2026. He had prior experience at the school, student teaching there a year before his return, and had also developed experience at three other schools.

“It’s a very busy job; it’s a very taxing job,” Davis said.

Loranger’s previous band director guided Davis into the role and laid the groundwork for him to eventually take over for the spring semester and develop new talent for the fall football season.

“It’s really humbling and great to come back to a school you student taught at,” Davis said. “I know the kids; the kids know me.”

Helping the Next Generation #GETTHERE

Davis eventually wants to return to Southeastern for a master’s degree, but moving to a larger school isn’t exactly at the forefront of his thought process.

“There’s not a whole lot of appreciation for the small bands, and they need people that want to stay there and make music,” he said, relating his experience at Loranger to how he felt his time at Southeastern was performing for a school not far from other larger institutions.

Although he achieved his initial goal of becoming a high school band director, Davis reminds himself frequently of where he’s been and how he achieved his current goals.

“I still help people in the music department; I still help students pass their PRAXIS or give them advice on their instruments, or even just show my face,” Davis said.

Davis remains involved with his fraternity, and with Loranger being only a 20-minute drive to Hammond, he still frequents the beautiful oaks on campus.

“I’m gone, but I’m no stranger to Southeastern.”