David Holsinger

In 1999, following 15 years of service as music minister, worship leader, and composer in residence to Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, composer/conductor David R. Holsinger joined the School of Music faculty at Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee, as Conductor of the Lee University Wind Ensemble. Holsinger's duties include teaching advanced instrumental conducting and composition. Lee University can be found on the web at www.leeuniversity.edu.

David R. Holsinger (b. 12/26/45, Hardin, Missouri), twice the recipient of the prestigious Ostwald Composition Prize of the American Bandmasters Association, was educated at Central Methodist College, Fayette, Missouri, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, and the University of Kansas, Lawrence. His primary composition study has been with Donald Bohlen at Central Missouri State and Charles Hoag at the University of Kansas.

David R. Holsinger is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association. The April, 1999 issue of The Instrumentalist magazine, the world's leading publication in its genre, contains an interview with the composer, along with two accompanying articles concerning Holsinger's compositions.

Over the past several years, Holsinger has been named a National Patron of Delta Omicron Music Fraternity, awarded the Distinguished Music Alumni Award from Central Missouri State University, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's Orpheus Award, as well as, honorary memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi National Music Fraternity and the Women's National Band Directors Association. During festivities surrounding the premiere of the composer's The Easter Symphony, Holsinger was honored by Gustavus Adolphus College with the awarding of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for lifetime achievement in composition and presented the Gustavus Fine Arts Medallion, the division's highest award, designed and sculpted by renowned artist, Paul Granlund. Holsinger was the fourth composer honored with this medal and joins a distinguished roster which includes Gunther Schuller, Jan Bender, Csada Deak, and most recent recipient, Libby Larsen.

In April of 2003, Holsinger was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award from Central Methodist College, and the following month, at Graduation Ceremonies, Dr. Paul Conn, President of Lee University presented the composer with the university's prestigious "Excellence in Scholarship" faculty award for his continued achievement in musical composition. In November, 2004, during Homecoming Festivities, Holsinger was named the "2004 Honorary Alumnus of the Year" by the Alumni Association of Lee University.

Over the past ten years, Holsinger served as Visiting Composer in Residence at eleven American colleges or universities, and held the Acuff Chair of Excellence in the Creative Arts at Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1999, the Christian Instrumental Directors Association awarded Holsinger its "Director of the Year" citation. The composer was also honored with biographical inclusion in "The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music", Vol. I and III, and in Norman Smith's "Program Notes for Band".

Holsinger's compositions have received kudos in several national competitions. He won the National Federation of Music Clubs Band Composition Contest in 1970. In 1971, The War Trilogy was awarded first place in the Kent State University Band Composition Contest. Liturgical Dances was first runner-up in both the 1981 NBA-DeMoulin and ABA-Ostwald competitions.

In 1982, the ABA-Ostwald prize was awarded to Holsinger's The Armies Of The Omnipresent Otserf. In 1986, Holsinger's The Deathtree, was a finalist in both the NBA-DeMoulin and the Sudler International Competition. His composition, In The Spring At The Time When Kings Go Off To War, won the 1986 ABA-Ostwald Prize.

Much of Holsinger's music is characterized by unrelenting tempos, ebullient rhythms, fluctuating accents over set ostinati, poly-lineal textures, vigorous asymmetrical melodies, and high emotional impact. His adagio works are as intransigently passionate as his allegros are exuberant! - TRN program notes.

Compositions by David Holsinger receiving outstanding reviews include The Easter Symphony, a three movement, 55 minute chorale symphony based on the Passion of Christ, and the U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Command Band commission, To Tame The Perilous Skies. High marks by reviewers have also been given to the memorial work, Consider The Uncommon Man; Praises, a six-movement ballet suite; Scrappy Bumptoe's Picture Cards And Ragtag Diary, composed for the Kansas Brass Quintet; Sinfonia Voci for band and choir; Texas Promenade, celebrating the 50th Anniversary Convention of the Texas Bandmasters Association; and The Song Of Moses, a four movement band/choral work premiered by the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants and selected for broadcast nationally on a National Public Radio Special Project on Vocal Music in August, 1997.

Other much played works in Holsinger's catalogue include The War Trilogy: 1971, a special edition of the Kent State contest winner; Abram's Pursuit; a rollicking overture based on a story from the Book of Genesis; Homage: Three Tapestries, the composer's tribute to Vaclav Nehlybel; and Adagio, about which one reviewer penned, "Composed in memory of a departed friend, this work is an intensely emotional synthesis of both joy and pain, the result being a beauty touched with sadness similar to the effect achieved by Albinoni's famous Adagio."

Scootin' On Hardrock, a jazz suite for concert band, and Battle Music, a work inspired by Revelations 12:7; "And there was war in Heaven...." have already seen a major number of performances since their publication in 2001. Not to be overlooked is Holsinger's translation of the American hymn, "It is Well with my Soul". On A Hymnsong Of Philip Bliss, his largest selling work, has become a part of the national dialogue with numerous televised memorial performances in recent years, including the commemorative services for the Challenger Astronauts, the State Funeral and Interment of President Ronald Reagan, the dedication of the World War II Memorial, and national commemoratives for our fallen heroes of the American Armed Forces, past and present.

New compositions in 2006 include Divertimented Dances, seven whimsical movements, Symphonia Glorioso, a concert fanfare, Elegy On An American Folktune, a memorial work, and a work honoring Robert Foster, Conductor Emeritus of the University of Kansas, Otserf 2: Revenge Of The Warrior Prince.

In 1995, the first two CD volumes of a projected multi-volume anthology was released by Mark Recording Studios of Clarence, New York. These volumes, The Symphonic Wind Music Of David R. Holsinger, feature major professional and university performing organizations in both live and studio sessions with the composer. Volumes 1 through 8 are now available, and preproduction work for Volume IX is proceeding well.

Holsinger was one of eleven composers asked to contribute a chapter in the GIA project entitled Composers On Composing For Band. This projected 4 volume book venture is edited by Mark Camphouse and Volume I, which includes chapters from such notable composers as David Gillingham, Karel Husa, W. Francis McBeth, and Timothy Mahr, among others, was released in December, 2002. A chapter concerning the music of David Holsinger is included in A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis And Commentary On Contemporary Masterpieces For Wind Band, VOL III, edited by Timothy Saltzman and published by Meredith Publications in late 2005. In addition, Holsinger was the subject of a special article in the German music magazine, "Musik zum Lesen" in celebration of his 60th birthday this past December (2005). He has previously been featured in "Blãsermusik" magazine, also a German publication.

In the summer of 1998, the United States Air Force Band of the West featured Holsinger as the Heritage VI composer during the Texas Bandmasters Association convention in San Antonio. This prestigious series celebrating American wind composers was founded in 1992 and had previously honored Morton Gould, Ron Nelson, Robert Jager, W. Francis McBeth, and Roger Nixon. This collection of recorded concerts has become, in recent years, a very special addition to the wind music world. These recorded concerts are available on the web through the Texas Bandmasters Association web site.

In addition to his university teaching, Holsinger spends time as a guest clinician, composer, and conductor throughout the United States. In recent years he has conducted the All State Bands in Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, New York, Virginia, Alabama, Utah, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Indiana, Georgia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Louisiana, Mississippi, California, Massachusetts, and Missouri.

Holsinger has appeared as guest composer/conductor at over 60 major colleges and universities in the past 10 years and has had opportunity to guest conduct outstanding high school honor bands in thirty four states.