David Holsinger
From Wind Repertory Project
Biography
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.
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.
Works for Winds
- Abram’s Pursuit
- Adagio
- American Faces
- Armies of the Omnipresent Otserf, The
- Army Ants March & Boogie
- At the Strongholds of EnGedi
- Ballet Exaltare
- Ballet Sacra
- Battle Music
- Canticles!
- Case of the Mysterious Stranger, The
- Chase, The
- Childhood Hymn, A
- Cityscape I (Festive Hours Neon Night)
- Cityscape II (Lonely Hours Anguished Night)
- Cluster Bluster Fluster March, The
- Consider the Uncommon Man
- Deerpath Dances
- Divertimented Dances
- Easter Symphony, The
- Elegy on an American Folk Tune
- Every Morning New
- Falcon Attack!
- Fanfare for Brass and Timpani
- Fanfare for Such a Time as This
- Fanfare for the Glorious NayCart
- Fantasy on a Gaelic Hymnsong
- Festiva Jubiloso
- Festival Music for a Silver Celebration
- Fort Canterbury March
- Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron, The
- Gears Pulleys Chains
- Gmyway’s Revenge!
- Graysondance
- Gypsydance
- Havendance
- Helm Toccata
- Hero Music
- Homage: Three Tapestries
- Hopak Raskolniki
- If You Must Doodle, Doodle Somewhere Else
- In Praise of Gentle Pioneers
- In the Spring At the Time When Kings Go Off to War
- Jolly Walk in Hibbertland, A
- Kaylen Dreaming
- Kansas City Dances
- Lake Canterbury Regatta
- Little Adventure Music, A
- Little Fantasy on an American Hymn
- Little Mystery Music, A
- Liturgical Dances
- Maelstrom, The
- March of the Combat Patrol, The
- March of the Grand High Poobah
- March on a Russian Hymnsong
- Mobbusters!
- Nilesdance
- On a Children's Sunday Song
- On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason
- On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss
- On a Hymnsong of Robert Lowery
- On a Southern Hymnsong
- On an American Spiritual
- On Ancient Hymns and Festal Dances
- On the Cul-de-sac, Three O’clock, Friday Afternoon
- On the Grand Prairie Texas
- On the Overland Stage to El Paso
- One Day in a Small Town
- Otserf II : Revenge of the Warrior Prince
- Partita Allegro
- Peasant Village Dance, The
- Praises! (Ballet in six movements)
- Prairie Dances
- Prelude and Rondo
- Pride of Buxmont, The
- Providence Unfinished
- Riding With the Frontier Battalion
- Scaling the North Wall
- Scootin’ on Hardrock
- Scrappy Bumptoe’s Picture Cards and Ragtag Diary
- Sinfonia Voci
- Song of Moses, The
- Summer to Fall: A Love Song
- Symphonia Glorioso
- Symphonic Movement (Holsinger)
- Texas Promenade
- Til His Hand Grew Tired and Froze to the Sword
- To Live the Life Triumphant
- To Tame the Perilous Skies
- Von Grrrhart’s 613th Regimental March
- War Trilogy: 1971, The
References
- David R Holsinger - Official Website
- Van Gilder, Chris. An examination of works for wind band: They led my Lord away arranged by Fred J. Allen, English folk song suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Variation overture by Clifton Williams, Dance of the rose maidens by Aram Khachaturian, arranged by James Truscello, Prelude and rondo by David R. Holsinger, And valdres marsj by Johannes Hanssen, arranged by Loras J. Schissel [Master's Thesis]
