David L. Brunner is acclaimed as a dynamic conductor, inspired teacher and imaginative composer. His wide and varied expertise embraces all ages in professional, university, public school, community, church and children’s choruses. Dr. Brunner is Professor Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida, where he conducts the University Chorus and Madrigal Singers, teaches courses in conducting and music education, and coaches private composition students. In both 1995 and 2000 he received a College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and in 1995 the University Excellence in Teaching Award, UCF’s highest teaching honor. He is also the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Researcher Award (2005), a Research Incentive Award (2002) and three Teaching Incentive Awards (2005, 1996 and 1993). In 1996 he received a National Award for College Teaching from the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. He has been Artistic Director and Conductor of Gloria Musicae, Florida’s professional chamber chorus; Guest Conductor of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, the Principal Chorus of the Florida Orchestra; and Music Director of the Florida Ambassadors of Music, with which he conducted six European concert tours. Other European appearances include performances at the Seminar fur Klassiche Musik at the Eisenstadter Sommerakademie in Eisenstadt and Vienna, Austria; in St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice; at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Wesley’s Chapel, London; and at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II. His choirs have appeared at state and divisional conventions of both the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. He has, on three occasions, conducted concerts of his works for chorus and orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Brunner is well known for his compelling and imaginative work with singers of all ages and has conducted All-State and regional honor choirs throughout the United States at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He has appeared in twenty-five states and abroad, as a clinician for the American Choral Directors Association, the Association of British Choral Directors, the Kodály Society of Canada, the International Cathedral Music Festival at Salisbury and Canterbury, the International Band and Choir Festival at the Hague, the American Schools in London and Paris and the International School in Munich, the Allerton Retreat for Choral Music Education at the University of Illinois, the Hartt School Summerterm, the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, the Music Educators National Conference, the American Guild of Organists, the Choristers Guild, the Perspective Choral Workshop in Santa Fe, and the Choral Music Experience International Institute for Choral Teacher Education and is a popular clinician and guest conductor of honor choirs, choral festivals and educational workshops throughout North American and Europe. David Brunner’s compositions resonate with imagination, lyricism and vitality. His music has been performed worldwide by children’s choirs, middle and high school singers, college, community and professional choirs; at state, regional and national meetings of the American Choral Directors Association and the national Kodály Conference; The New Millennium Festival and Choral Music Experience International Institute for Choral Teacher Education in England, the U.S., Sweden and Scotland; the International Academy of Choral Music in Parthenay, France; the Voices 500 Festival in Newfoundland, Canada; the Europa Cantat in Germany; the American Cantat in Venezuela; the International Cathedral Music Festival at Canterbury Cathedral and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London; and at EPCOT and Carnegie Hall. In October 2000 his Hold Fast Your Dreams was sung by children from around the world at a pre-Olympics cultural event in Salt Lake City. The New York Times has regarded him as a notable figure in choral music, a “prolific choral writer whose name figures prominently on national repertory lists.” (24 April 2004)

Brunner holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and Northwestern University in choral music education and conducting and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Literature and Conducting from the University of Illinois. In addition he has studied with Robert Shaw, and with Helmuth Rilling in conducting master classes at the Oregon Bach Festival. Dr. Brunner is a Past-President of the Florida chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.