bainbridge symphony orchestra

meet the conductor & musicians

David Upham, Music Director & Conductor
David Upham currently serves as the Music Director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra in Bainbridge Island, Washington. In his brief tenure with the orchestra, he has invigorated the ensemble with both his musicality and his selection of diverse and engaging programs. Audiences have responded to his leadership, resulting in complete sellouts of the final concerts of the 2007-2008 Season.

David’s recent guest conducting engagements have included appearances with Ballet Bellevue, Marrowstone Summer Music, and the Northwest Mahler Festival. He will make his international debut in November, 2008 at the contemporary music festival, Aujourd’hui musiques in Perpignan, France. He is in demand across the region and country as a conductor and clinician, performing at festivals in Massachusetts, Arkansas, and Kansas. David has a long and successful history as a music educator as well, serving for ten years as the conductor of various student ensembles, including a long tenure with the prestigious Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras. His students have routinely won top prizes in both orchestral and chamber music competitions.

David has received degrees from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), the University of Northern Colorado, and most recently completed his doctoral degree at the University of Washington. His principle teachers include Maestro Peter Erös, Dr. David MacKenzie, Germán Augusto Gutiérrez, and Douglas Diamond. David has undertaken additional musical studies with Richard Rosenberg, Gunther Schuller, and Marin Alsop.