Dhvaughan, Neighbor

DAVID VAUGHAN

Conductor

David Vaughan grew up in Marlborough, Connecticut, and made his conducting debut at age 18 as student conductor of the RHAM High School Symphonic Band. Since graduating from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Conducting, he has taught music in the public school systems of Stafford and Killingly. He now also has an adjunct faculty appointment in ECSU’s Performing Arts Department.

Mr. Vaughan had played clarinet with the Willimantic Orchestra for five seasons when he was invited to audition with two other candidates for the post of Conductor during the 1990–91 season. He was named Conductor in May 1991. Under his direction, the Orchestra has performed a wide variety of significant orchestral music, ranging from Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 to less familiar pieces, such as Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphoses, Nielsen’s Aladdin Suite, and Revueltas’ Sensamaya.

In addition to the Willimantic Orchestra, Mr. Vaughan conducts the Windham Concert Band and is founder and Director of the Willimantic Salon Orchestra, an ensemble specializing in dance music from 1890 to 1940, as well as light classical and more contemporary popular music. He has been Conductor of the Greater Killingly Community Band, the Westfield Church Choir of Danielson, and the UConn School of the Arts Honors Orchestra, and has guest-conducted numerous other ensembles.

Mr. Vaughan has worked extensively in musical theatre, serving as Musical Director and Conductor for productions with the UConn Drama Department, UConn Nutmeg Playhouse, Thomaston Opera House, Manchester Musical Players, Manchester Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Windham Theatre Guild, and, most recently, Godspell, Oliver! and Scrooge at the Storrs Congregational Church. He will also be conducting all performances of South Pacific to be mounted this season with the Theater Program at ECSU.

Outside the mainstream repertoire, he has conducted concerts of new and avant-garde music with the UConn Contemporary Music Ensemble and with Simsbury’s Studio of Electronic Music, of which he was President and Co-Artistic Director.

As an advocate for the arts, Mr. Vaughan currently serves on the Mansfield Arts Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors of Hop River Chamber Music, Inc.

When not teaching or conducting music, he enjoys playing clarinet and guitar, often with local and regional ensembles. He resides in Mansfield with his wife Barbara, son David, daughter Elizabeth, and cats Fritz, Jasha, and Christmas Kitty.