David Widder

David R. Widder (M.M., ’83 D.M.A.), Blacksburg, Va. was named a Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, where he taught in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. He was the founding director of the University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, which he conducted for 30 years, and he contributed to the scholarship of music through his study of clarinet mouthpiece design, historical wind instrument performance practice, and many solo and chamber music performances. He taught a wide variety of undergraduate courses across the music curriculum, particularly applied clarinet and wind ensemble, and advised many students preparing for junior and senior year recitals. He performed at conferences of the International Clarinet Society and Double Reed Society, in the University Chamber Music series and Virginia Tech faculty chamber music concerts, and with the New River Valley Chamber Orchestra, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and Opera Roanoke. He also was the founding director of the Virginia Tech Honor Band and the Virginia Tech Summer Band Camp.