Rate My Professor David Gompper

David Gompper is Professor of Composition and Area Head for Composition in the School of Music, as well as Director of the Center for New Music, at The University of Iowa, roles he has held since 1991. He holds degrees including a DMA from the University of Michigan, MMus, ARCM, and BM from studies at the Royal College of Music in London with Jeremy Dale Roberts, Humphrey Searle, and Phyllis Sellick. Gompper has lived and worked professionally as a pianist, conductor, and composer in New York, San Diego, London, Nigeria, Michigan, Texas, and Iowa. Following his studies in London, he taught in Nigeria, then earned his doctorate at the University of Michigan and taught at the University of Texas at Arlington before joining The University of Iowa. In 2002–2003, he served as a Fulbright Scholar in Russia, where he taught, performed, and conducted at the Moscow Conservatory.

Gompper's compositions have been performed throughout the United States and Europe. Key premieres include Transitus for wind ensemble at Carnegie Hall in 1999; at London's Wigmore Hall, Homage a W. A. for piano (in memory of William Albright) and Shades of Love, a song cycle on poetry by Constantin Cavafy; and in Moscow, Crossed, Music in the Glen, Six Love Poems, Star of the County Down, Butterfly Dance, Spirals, and Ikon. Ikon for violin and piano was performed on a 14-concert tour across the US and Europe with violinist Wolfgang David, with whom he has recorded three CDs on the Albany and VDE-Gallo labels. His Violin Concerto and other orchestral works were recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009 for release on Naxos in 2011. More recent compositions include a 28-minute song cycle, The Animals, on poetry by Marvin Bell for baritone Stephen Swanson; a piano solo in memory of William Albright; a piano trio; and a work for solo cello for Timothy Gill. Gompper received the Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2009, a Fromm Commission in 2013, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2020, and the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence at The University of Iowa. As Director of the Center for New Music, he oversees concerts of contemporary music each semester.