Organist David Heller has risen to
prominence as an outstanding organist and pedagogue in the United States.
The American Organist has described him as “an eloquent performer,”
and his recording, Veni Creator Spiritus (Calcante Recordings) was hailed as an
“excellent demonstration of outstanding music making on a contemporary
American organ.” His teachers have included Miriam Clapp Duncan and Russell
Saunders in organ, Colin Tilney and Lisa Goode Crawford in harpsichord, and
Gerre Hancock in improvisation. He
has continued his post-doctoral organ study with David Craighead.
An active recitalist, Dr. Heller has
performed extensively throughout the United States and internationally in
Canada, France, Germany, Guatemala, and Mexico. As author of the acclaimed book, Manual on Hymn Playing (G.I.A.
Publications), he is frequently sought as a lecturer and clinician in the areas
of church music skills and hymn playing, giving presentations across the country
for colleges, chapters of the American Guild of Organists, The Hymn Society, and
the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
He has two solo compact disc recordings to his credit:
Veni Creator Spiritus (Rosales Organ, University United Methodist Church,
San Antonio, Texas), and The Art of Gregorian Paraphrase (Casavant Organ, Church
of St. Louis, King of France, St. Paul, Minnesota) on the Calcante label.
Since 1986, David Heller has been a member
of the faculty at Trinity University, serving as Professor of Music and
University Organist. His primary
teaching responsibilities in the Department of Music are in Music Theory, Organ
(Private Instruction, Organ Literature, Organ Pedagogy), and Harpsichord.
During the spring semester of 2005, Dr.
Heller will be on academic leave from Trinity University, assuming the position
of Visiting Artist in Residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland,
Oregon. In addition to recitals,
choral performances, and serving as organist for worship services, Dr. Heller
will record a new compact disc, Then and Now: A Twentieth-Century Retrospective
for the Pro Organo label (to be released in September, 2005).
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
February 6 -
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon
February 23
- University of Nevada
at Las Vegas (Collaborative performance with mezzo soprano Karen Leigh-Post)
February 25
- Trinity Episcopal
church, Reno, Nevada
April 3 -
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland, Oregon
April 10
- First Presbyterian
Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 17
- St. Luke’s Episcopal
Church, San Antonio, Texas
July 17
- Parker Chapel, Trinity
University (Recital for the National Convention of The Hymn Society)
September 16
- Faculty Recital,
Parker Chapel, Trinity University
Dr. Heller
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