David Brunner – Choral Music Professor Emeritus at the University of Central Florida

David Brunner has dedicated his life to music, and through his work as professor and director of choral activities at the University of Central Florida for 31 years he has shared this love with students.

David is an accomplished composer whose compositional styles span from harmonically rich and lyrical to bold and asymmetrically rhythmic. His texts aim to resonate with singers and audiences of all ages, providing them with meaningful messages that will stay with them long after they leave the stage.

Early Life and Education

David Brunner was a self-admitted “nerd at heart,” born on May 7, 1964 and passing away March 19, 2022. He was an accomplished basketball player, referee in high school and college, stock market expert, and dedicated family man despite his health challenges. Despite these setbacks, david enjoyed a long and fruitful career.

David is an accomplished conductor who has conducted hundreds of thousands of students in professional, university, public school and community choruses. Utilizing cutting-edge technology and modern performance methods, david is one of today’s most effective and efficient choral conductors. His most recent accolade includes being named Director of Choral Activities at University Central Florida; additionally he has composed award-winning pieces sure to please even the most discriminating taste in music.

Professional Career

David Brunner has had a distinguished professional career in music. He conducts treble, tenor/bass and mixed All-State/regional honor choirs across America and abroad; coaches private composition students; and actively presents at choral workshops and conferences.

He served as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida for 31 years, retiring in 2011. Throughout his career he earned numerous awards and recognitions in choral music including College Music Educator of the Year from Florida Music Educators Association and Impact Award for Distinguished Contributions to Choral Profession from Florida chapter American Choral Directors Association.

Achievements and Honors

David Brunner is a renowned choral composer, conductor and teacher. He frequently presents at workshops and festivals around the world as a clinician for choral music; furthermore, his choirs have performed concerts across England, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy and Greece.

He has composed for children’s, middle and high school choirs as well as professional ensembles. His compositions are marked by imagination, lyricism and vitality.

He is an award-winning composer, having been commissioned by organizations such as the American Choral Directors Association, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Copland Foundation and Boosey & Hawkes to create new mixed chorus adaptations of Old American songs. Additionally he has composed works for Miami Children’s Chorus.

Personal Life

Professor Emeritus David Brunner has had a profound effect on thousands of young lives during his 31 years at UCF, from conducting the University Chorus and Madrigal Singers to coaching private composition students. Recently he was honored as College Music Educator of the Year by Florida Music Educators Association.

He has earned multiple ASCAP awards since 1997 and was selected as a Raymond W. Brock Commissioned Composer by the American Choral Directors Association in 2008.

He is renowned for setting text like this Scott Lounsbury poem with urgency, playfulness and electricity that make it a delight to perform. Originally composed for middle, high school and college singers in a virtual choir environment, the piece perfectly captures what it feels like to sing one’s heart out.

Net Worth

David Brunner is a software engineer who develops artificial intelligence solutions to make knowledge workers smarter. He founded ModuleQ, an enterprise software provider to connect professionals to information. Prior to that, he worked for Paribas – France’s largest bank and financial services firm. David earned his doctorate in Information, Technology and Management from Harvard University; he currently resides in Au Sable Forks with his wife Rhonda Butler where both are passionate environmentalists.