Lee University
Award winning composer and conductor David R. Holsinger 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 university1s 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.