DR. DAVID OERTEL

Conductor, Musical Director

     David has a long list of musical direction and conducting credits among professional theatre, opera companies and concert ensembles. David holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as well as a Masters degree in Applied Performance from the University of Houston. His undergraduate degree, in Music Education, is from the University of North Texas. David has served as conductor and music director for over 30 musical theatre productions including Sweeney Todd, Chicago, West Side Story, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, Bat Boy, and Seussical the Musical. He has also appeared as a guest conductor in venues from Houston, TX to St. Petersburg, Russia and Zlin, Czech Republic. David has taught music in the public schools in Houston and has served as faculty at High Point University (NC) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. For a healthy thirteen seasons, he was Music Director and Conductor of the Lee County Orchestra in Sanford, NC. Oertel took the helm of the Austin Philharmonic in 2010. He also leads the Starlight Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Flute Choir. Additionally, Dr. Oertel can be seen playing trumpet in the pit and on stage.