David Anderson
Professor Emeritus of Music
Email: dand@spu.edu
Education: BA, Whitworth College; MMus, University of Oregon. At SPU 1992-2018.
David Anderson was Director of Choral Music at SPU for 26 years, longer than anyone else in the school’s history, and he directed the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Under his direction, the SPU Concert Choir appeared at the Music Educators’ National Conference (MENC/NAfME) Washington State Convention, the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) Northwest Convention, the MENC Northwest Convention and the ACDA National Convention.
David Anderson’s conducting studies included work under Helmuth Rilling (Germany), Eric Ericson (Sweden), and Avner Itai (Israel). Prior experience included teaching at Shaw Junior High School in Spokane, Washington; Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Washington; and West Albany High School in Albany, Oregon. Before joining SPU, he served as choral director at the University of North Alabama.
He always loved to discover forgotten and lesser-known literature. A colleague from another university once said, “Your literature is quintessential, David. Your students are blessed by your passion for the unexplored and your knowledge of choral literature. One of your hallmarks, my friend.” David continues research into Nineteenth-Century English Part Song as a retirement hobby, rediscovering forgotten composers and their music.