David Ott (born July 5, 1947) is an American composer of
classical music
Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...
.
Born in
Crystal Falls, Michigan
Crystal Falls is a city and the county seat of Iron County, Michigan, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 1,598. The city is located within Crystal Falls Township, but is a separate municipal entity. The area first dev ...
, Ott's works include four symphonies, an opera (''The Widows Lantern''), the ''Annapolis Overture'', written for the
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO), located in Annapolis, Maryland, has been in operation since 1962. Its founders include Kenneth W. Page, a well-respected civic leader in the Annapolis area during the 1960s who was also the music director of ...
, and various pieces of children's music He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music (four times) and the Grammys (twice). The premiere of his ''Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra'', performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mstislav Rostropovich, gained Ott the 1988 nomination. He graduated from the
University of Wisconsin–Platteville
University of Wisconsin–Platteville (UW–Platteville or UW Platt) is a public university in Platteville, Wisconsin, United States. Part of the University of Wisconsin System, it offers bachelor's degree, bachelor's and Master's degree, master ...
in 1969. He received his master's degree at
Indiana University School of Music
The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music. It has more than 1,500 students, approximately half of whom ar ...
in 1971, and his PhD in music at the University of Kentucky in 1982.
Ott has served on the faculties of
Houghton College
Houghton University is a Private university, private Christian liberal arts college in Houghton, New York, United States. Houghton was founded in 1883 by Willard J. Houghton and is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church.Pfeiffer College in North Carolina, and
DePauw University
DePauw University ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College and changed its name to DePauw University in 1884. The college has a Methodist heritage and was ...
in Indiana, being honored as Outstanding Professor at two of these institutions. He also held the appointment of Pace Eminent Scholar and Composer in Residence at the
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida (West Florida or UWF) is a public university in Pensacola, Florida, United States. Established in 1963 as a member institution of the State University System of Florida, the University of West Florida is a comprehe ...
.
David Ott was the founder (2001) and director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Northwest Florida, until it disbanded in 2008.
Ott's opera, ''The Widow's Lantern'', premiered September 26, 2009, and was performed by the
Pensacola Opera The Pensacola Opera is an American opera company located in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only incorporated city, city in Escambia County, Florida, Escambia Co ...
. After the premiere, Dr. Ott was seriously injured when he fell 14 feet into the basement below the orchestra pit. His newest work, Symphony No. 5, was premiered with th Reston Community Orchestra (Reston, Virginia) on November 22, 2009.
On January 10, 2013, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported that Ott had recently started a foundation, Music for Healing, to bring music to the sick and elderly in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Grand Rapids Symphony
The Grand Rapids Symphony is a professional orchestra located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1930, the Symphony celebrated its 90th anniversary season in 2019-20. In 2006, its recording ''Invention and Alchemy'' was nominated for Be ...
, Catherine Comet, cond.
*David Ott: ''The Water Garden'', Koss Classics KC-1023, 1995. Includes ''The Water Garden'' (symphonic poem, 9'33"), ''Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra'' (3 mvt., 23'57"), and ''Music of the Canvas'' (Three symphonic sketches representing paintings by
Richard Pousette-Dart
Richard Warren Pousette-Dart (June 8, 1916 – October 25, 1992) was an American abstract expressionist artist most recognized as a founder of the New York School of painting.Kimmelman, Michae"Richard Pousette-Dart, 76, Dies; An Early Abstract E ...
, commissioned by the
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is an encyclopedic art museum located at Newfields, a campus that also houses Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, the Garden at Newfields and more. It is located at the corner of No ...
, 26'15"). Performed by the
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The orchestra performs primarily at the Bradley Symphony Center in Allen-Bradley Hall. The orchestra also serves as the orchestra for Floren ...
,
Zdeněk Mácal
Zdeněk Mácal (; 8 January 1936 – 25 October 2023) was a Czech conductor who worked internationally. The promising conductor who had won international competitions left his home country of Czechoslovakia in 1968 when the Warsaw Pact ended the ...
, Cond., Solo cellists in the concerto are Daniel Laufer and Wolfgang Laufer.
*American Journeys David Ott: Concerto for alto flute and strings; Piano concerto No. 2. Franz Liszt/John Adams: The Black Gondola. Ferruccio Busoni/John Adams: Berceuse élégiaque. Gisele Ben-Dor, conductor. Christine Michelle Smith, flutist. Frederick Moyer, piano.
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...