David Eyler
Dr. David P. Eyler has been director of percussion studies at Concordia College since 1987. He is director of the Concordia Percussion Ensemble and Marimba Choir. These two groups have released three compact discs: “Wood, Metal, Skin,” “Reckless,” and “Christmas Favorites.” Before being appointed to the first full-time percussion position at Concordia, Eyler served in the unique position of Tri-College percussionist for the consortium of North Dakota State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Concordia College from 1987 to 2000. Eyler has a broad background in both public school and college teaching. He has directed elementary through high school concert and marching bands, university wind ensembles, been assistant conductor of the Louisiana State University Symphony Orchestra, acting director of Percussion Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and director of The Concordia College Jazz Ensemble I.
As a professional performer, Eyler is Principal Timpanist of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. He premiered the “Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra,” which he commissioned of composer Russell Peterson. During his tenure with the F-M Symphony, Eyler has also been featured as marimba and xylophone soloist, conducted the orchestra, served two consecutive terms on the Board of Trustees, and was chair the Orchestra Committee. He has been Principal Percussionist of the Baton Rouge Symphony and Baton Rouge Opera orchestras, and has performed with the Columbus (Ohio), Lake Charles, Rapides, and Potomac symphony orchestras. He has been a guest soloist and conductor with numerous high school, college, and community bands and orchestras throughout the U.S.
Eyler’s original compositions and arrangements are published by Colla Voce Music, Ludwig Masters Publishing Company, Music For Percussion, Per-Mus Publications, Pioneer Percussion, Row-Loff Productions, and the Musser Division of Selmer. His articles have appeared in The Instrumentalist Magazine, Percussive Notes Magazine, and The Percussionist Journal.
Eyler is the host of Concordia’s Annual Day of Percussion. Previous events have been so successful that he has presented several clinics and workshops at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention about organizing a Day of Percussion and his clinic notes have been published by PAS. Eyler was a five-term member of the Board of Directors of the Percussive Arts Society and has served as president and first vice president of the Minnesota Chapter of PAS, as well as being a member of the Percussion Ensemble, Education and College Pedagogy Committees at the international level. He has been very active as a clinician and adjudicator for marching band festivals, all-state band and orchestra festivals, as well as district and state solo and ensemble contests throughout the U.S. Eyler earned his degrees from Louisiana State University, The Ohio State University, and Frostburg State University, and attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
