David von
Kampen (b. 1986) is a DMA
candidate in music composition and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the
University of Kansas. He has studied composition with James Barnes, Dan
Gailey, Forrest Pierce, Eric Richards, and Randall Snyder. Raised in Michigan and Nebraska, David’s musical
influences include jazz, hymnody, choral music, musical theatre.
David is a three-time Downbeat Award winner in graduate-level
jazz writing categories, winner of the National Band Association’s Young Jazz
Composers Competition, winner of the 2013 Ithaca College Jazz Composition
Contest, a three-time winner of the Vancouver Chamber Choir Young Composers
Competition, winner of the Morningside College Choral Composition Contest, an ASCAP
Young Jazz Composers Competition Finalist, and the recipient of the Vreeland
Award for "exceptional creative ability" by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music in 2007 and 2011.
David's choral and instrumental music is published
by UNC Jazz Press, G. Schirmer/Hal Leonard, Boosey and Hawkes, Concordia Publishing
House, Sound Music Publications, Potenza Music Publishing, and Dorn
Publications.
David's compositions and arrangements have been
performed by the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, the Vancouver Chamber Choir,
the LCMS National Youth Gathering Honor Choir and Wind Symphony, the Anchorage
Concert Chorus, vocal and instrumental ensembles at the University of Kansas,
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of Oregon, the University of
Northern Colorado, Sacramento State University, University of Wyoming, University
of Central Arkansas, Concordia University (NE), Concordia University (Chicago),
Doane College, Briar Cliff University, Luther College, Dordt College,
Morningside College, and by numerous high school and church choirs throughout
the United States.
David currently directs the University of Kansas Jazz
Singers and teaches composition at Concordia University, Neb. He is a member of ASCAP and the American Choral
Directors Association, and lives in Lincoln with his wife Mollie and daughter
Gretta.