David Vonderheide is Acting Principal Trumpet for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the 2012-13 season. A native of Madison, IN, he began his trumpet studies at the age of 12. After studying with John Rommel, former Principal Trumpet of the Louisville Orchestra and current Indiana University professor of trumpet, Mr. Vonderheide was admitted to Northwestern University, where he studied with Vincent Chicowicz, former Second Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony. He received his Bachelor of Music in 1996.
Mr. Vonderheide joined the Virginia Symphony in 1998 as Second Trumpet, a position he held until 2009 when he stepped into the role of Principal Trumpet. In this role, he can be heard on the Virginia Symphony’s most recent recording, The Music of Adolphus Hailstork, on the Naxos label. He also just finished recording Mahler’s Eighth Symphony to be released next year. With the Virginia Symphony, Mr. Vonderheide has been featured several times as a soloist and is scheduled to perform the Haydn Concerto during the 2012-2013 season.
An active performer with the Virginia Opera and the Virginia Arts Festival, Mr. Vonderheide has had the opportunity to premiere many new works and can be heard on the 2010 world premiere recording of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Rappahanock County, an opera commissioned for the Virginia Arts Festival and conducted by Rob Fisher. Mr. Vonderheide has also maintained an active chamber music schedule, performing in various ensembles with the Arts Festival, local colleges, and other Hampton Roads area organizations. He has also been featured many times on the Tidewater chapter of the American Guild of Organists series of organ recitals called ‘The Organ Swell.” During the 2011-12 season he performed as a soloist with special guest artist Ken Cowan, a world renowned organist.
As an educator Mr. Vonderheide has been on the faculties of Christopher Newport University and The College of William and Mary. At William and Mary he appeared as a faculty guest soloist with several ensembles, including the 2012 world premiere performance of Brian Hulse’s Margins, Afterwards, a piece for solo trumpet and chorus, and Copland’s Quiet City with the William and Mary Wind Ensemble. Mr. Vonderheide has also been a contributor to a series of books about the teaching philosophy of his teacher Vincent Chicowicz, and has written segments for the books and recorded material for a companion CD.
Mr. Vonderheide has played as a substitute musician with the San Francisco Symphony and performed in festivals in the US, Asia, Europe, and most recently, at the Waterville Valley Conductors Institute in New Hampshire.