Organist David Heller has risen to prominence as an outstanding organist and pedagogue in the United States. The American Organist has described him as “an eloquent performer,” and his playing as “an excellent demonstration of outstanding music making on a contemporary American organ.” He holds degrees from Lawrence University and the Eastman School of Music, which awarded him the Performer’s Certificate in Organ. His teachers have included Miriam Clapp Duncan and Russell Saunders in organ, Colin Tilney and Lisa Goode Crawford in harpsichord, and Gerre Hancock in improvisation. He has continued his post-doctoral organ study with David Craighead.
As an active recitalist, Dr. Heller has performed extensively throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, France, Germany, Guatemala, and Mexico. As author of the acclaimed book, Manual on Hymn Playing (G.I.A. Publications), he is frequently sought as a lecturer and clinician in the areas of church music skills and hymn playing, giving presentations across the country for colleges, chapters of the American Guild of Organists, The Hymn Society, and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. He has two earlier recordings on the Calcante label. His previous recording for Pro Organo, Blasts From the Century Past, was acclaimed in the American Record Guide as “fine performance across the board.”
Since 1986, David Heller has been a member of the faculty at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, serving as Professor of Music and University Organist. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Heller serves as Artist-in-Residence at North Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, and Visiting Artist-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. David Heller is represented by Phyllis Stringham Concert Management, Waukesha, Wisconsin.