Dr. David Widder

David Widder is Professor of Music Emeritus at Virginia Tech, where for forty years he taught clarinet and served as conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble for thirty of those years. A graduate of the University of Arkansas (Bachelor of Music) and the University of North Texas (Doctor of Musical Arts), he works actively as a soloist, clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator. In addition to his performances with the Virginia Tech Wind Ensemble and over fifty clinic and honor bands in the United States, he has appeared as a Guest Conductor in Europe and Asia. Dr. Widder also served as  the director  and founder of the Virginia Tech Music Camp and the Virginia Tech Honor Band.

As a clarinetist he has appeared more than thirty-five times as a concerto soloist as well as a chamber and orchestral clarinetist in venues around the world, and at conferences of the International Clarinet Society, Horn Society, Double Reed Society, and the Midwest Clinic. His first teacher was his father, Roger Widder, and subsequent teachers included David Pittman and Lee Gibson In addition to modern clarinet, Widder performs on historical clarinets which he studied with Hans Rudolf Stalder. In 2004, many of his former Virginia Tech clarinet students honored him by returning to campus for a surprise performance on his final Wind Ensemble Concert.

Prior to his appointment at Virginia Tech, he taught in the Fair Grove, Missouri public schools and served as a teacher of clarinet and woodwinds at the University of North Texas. In retirement, he and his wife Cheryl enjoy RV travel, fishing and grandchildren.