B.M. E. Central Methodist College
M. A. Central Missouri State University
L. H. D. Gustavus Adolphus College
A.B.D. University of Kansas
email:
dholsinger@leeuniversity.edu
Associate Professor of Music
In 1999, having served 15 years as Composer in
Residence to Shady Grove Church, Grand Prairie,
Texas, award winning composer/conductor David R.
Holsinger (b 1945) relocated to Cleveland,
Tennessee, where he teaches conducting,
composition and serves as Director of the Wind
Ensemble at Lee University.
Holsinger's compositions have won four national
competitions, including a two time ABA Ostwald
Award. His works have also been finalists in the
NBA and Sudler competitions. Educated at
Central Methodist College, Fayette, Missouri,
Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg,
and the University of Kansas, Lawrence,
Holsinger was also honored with an honorary
Doctorate and the Gustavus Fine Arts Medallion,
from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter,
Minnesota. In the summer of 1998, during the
Texas Bandmasters Association convention in San
Antonio, the United States Air Force Band of the
West featured Holsinger as the HERITAGE VI
composer. 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. An elected member of the
American Bandmasters Association, Holsinger's
recent honors include being inducted as a
National Patron of Delta Omicron Music
Fraternity, receiving the Distinguished Music
Alumni Award from Central Missouri State
University, the Christian Instrumental Directors
Association 1999 Director of the Year Citation,
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's Orpheus Award, and
biographical inclusion in both The Heritage
Encyclopedia of Band Music, Vol. I and III, and
Program Notes for Band.
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 universityıs prestigious "Excellence in
Scholarship" faculty award for his continued
achievement in musical composition.
During the past ten years, Holsinger has 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. Holsinger recently contributed a
chapter for the GIA Publication, Composers on
Composing for Band, edited by Mark Camphouse.
This book features insights on musical
creativity by eleven American band composers.
In addition to his university duties, Holsinger
spends much of his energies as a guest composer
and conductor with All State organizations,
professional bands, and university ensembles
throughout the United States. When not
composing or conducting he plays with his HO
train layout.
More information, including a printable list of
Holsinger's compositions, can be found on the
world wide web at
http://www.davidrholsinger.com/.
Dr. David Holsinger
