David R.

Holsinger

Composer, Conductor

Jerome Queen

MUSC 357

FALL 2016
 David Holsinger was born on December 26, 1945 in Hardin, Missouri. He was actually

born to two high school students, and was adopted by the Holsingers shortly after birth. He was

raised as an only child on a farm. The Holsingers knew that he had a strong musical background,

and started him on Piano at age four. He often found himself leaving his chores and fieldwork to

take music breaks where hed play hours at a time. Along with piano and jazz organ lessons,

Holsinger also starting playing trumpet in the third grade and started band in the fourth grade. He

attended Hardin-Central High School and knew he wanted a career in teaching music long before

his graduation.

For undergraduate studies, Holsinger attended Central Methodist College, which he

described as a hotbed for music educators in the 50s and 60s. Holsinger realized he didnt

have a passion to teach music, but continued to study music education until his junior year. He

decided to change his major after being conducted by guest composer Vaclav Nelhybel, who was

to conduct two of his newest works, during Central Methodists annual spring tour. Nelhybel was

conducting his piece Trittico and it was then Holsinger decided he wanted to be a composer.

During the following week, Holsinger composed his first piece for band, Prelude and Rondo. It

was evident that Holsinger was influenced by Nelhybel, through his use of syncopation,

dynamic contrast, strong brass and percussion and driving tempo. These were also to become

staples of Holsingers music.

Upon graduating from Central Methodist College, Holsinger went to study for his

graduate and doctoral degrees at Central Missouri State University and University of Kansas,

where he studied under two prolific composers, Donald Behlen and CHarles Hoag, both of

whom helped Holsinger identify his style.

 Holsingers first gig was in Grand Prairie, Texas, where he served as the Composer in

Residence to Shady Grove Church from 1984 to 1999. Following that, he current serves as

Director of the Wind Ensemble and Professor at Lee University. Holsinger is not a traditional

conductor as most famous conductors are. His conducting positions are all gotten because of his

compositions. Being a professor and composer, conducting is more of a secondary experience for

him and he conducts more so to teach, rather than as an artistic craft. Aside from being

conducting Lee University's Wind Ensemble, he also guest conducts numerous groups across the

United States, many of which he premieres his own compositions.

Holsinger is also married to his wife Winona Holsinger, who teaches music as well, and

he enjoys playing with model planes in his spare time. In 2015, Holsinger suffered a stroke,

which he is currently recovering from. Holsinger is significant as a conductor as he shows how

versatile the career is. A lot of conductors do not just conduct, they leverage of aspects of music,

such as performing, teaching, or as in Holsingers case, composing.

 Sources:

http://www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/music/faculty/david-holsinger.aspx

http://windliterature.org/category/holsinger-david/

http://sail.cnu.edu/omeka/files/original/9654e515585c51f8361e223019597b0a.pdf

http://www.banddirector.com/article/pg-interviews/an-interview-with-david-holsinger