David Uber
Dr. David Uber was a prominent American composer whose works for brass, woodwind, and percussion are played extensively throughout the world. His colorful career in music ranged from award-winning composer to world class trombonist, college professor to band director. Prominent artists, corporations and universities have commissioned works by Uber.
Born in Princeton, Illinois, he lived in Wyoming, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. After his graduation from Cartage College and receiving a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Uber served four years in the United States Navy Band and then continued his studies at Columbia University where he obtained his Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees.
Dr. Uber was professor of music at the College of new Jersey (formerly known as Trenton State College) for thirty-three years and was recently awarded the title of Emeritus Professor of Music by that institution. In May 1999, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by Carthage College. He was a member of the faculty at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey and the National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan where he was the Director of Ensemble Music. He also served as director of the Princeton University Symphonic band for ten years. His leadership of this organization brought world-wide recognition to them. Many new works by American composers were premiered and tours with that organization brought international reputation in England, California, and Washington D.C.
As a performing artist, Dr. Uber played first chair trombone with the New York City Ballet Orchestra at Lincoln center, the New York City Opera Orchestra and the NBC Symphony Orchestra (later known as the Symphony of the Air). For many years he was solo trombonist with the NBC Television Opera, the Columbia recording Symphony, the New York Brass Quintet and the Contemporary Brass Quintet. His artistry may be heard on countless record albums under such eminent conductors as Igor Stravinsky, Leopold Stokowski, Sir Thomas Beecham, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Morton Gould, Arthur Fiedler, Robert Irving, Fritz Reiner, Robert Russell Bennett, Arthur Weisberg, Bruno Walter, and Igor Markevich.
His Processional for World Peace, commissioned by the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, received its world premiere in 1992. He received commissions for original large scale compositions from Carthage College, the Johnson Wax Company, Dakota State College, Augustana College, Princeton University, the College of New Jersey, the Hillsborough High School Band (NJ), The Fairfax City Band (VA), and The Instrumentalist.
