He earned a Bachelor of Music Education with honors from the University of Arkansas as a private conducting student of Eldon Janzen.

During his tenure at Texas A&M University, he has conducted the Wind Symphony for conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association seven times, the College Band Directors National Association two times, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, and the American Bandmasters Association (he was the 2009 convention host), as well as in settings such as Carnegie Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center and the Wortham Center.

He has also conducted the Wind Symphony during performances in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

Under his direction, the Wind Symphony performed Leonard Bernstein's "Overture to Candide", Gustav Holst's "First Suite in E-flat for Military Band", George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with Kathryn Woodard at the piano, Donald Grantham's "Southern Harmony", Percy Grainger's "Over The Hills And Far Away", Frank Ticheli's "Blue Shades", David F. Wilborn's newly-commissioned "Concertante Caprice", and John P. Sousa's "The Freelance March".

[7] In July 1999, Rhea was awarded the Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year for the state of Texas from Phi Beta Mu.