Collection: University of Michigan - David Zerkel

David Zerkel is the newly appointed Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Michigan, leading an active career as both a performer and educator. Before his arrival at Michigan, he taught in similar positions at the University of Georgia and Illinois State University. His students have distinguished themselves by winning international and national competitions and attaining positions with professional performing organizations. He is a Past President of the International Tuba Euphonium Association and was recently selected as the inaugural recipient of the ITEA Teaching Award.

David has performed with many orchestras, to include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. He has served in a guest capacity for performances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony and the Utah Symphony. He was a member of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, was a founding member of the Washington Symphonic Brass and has performed with the Burning River Brass. He began his performing career as a member of the United States Army Field Band and The United States Army Band, both located in Washington, DC.

David has performed as a featured soloist at many workshops and symposia, including the Leonard Falcone Festival, several International Tuba Euphonium Conferences, and the United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Workshop. In addition, he has performed as a solo recitalist at many of the leading colleges and conservatories in the United States. His first solo CD, American Music for Tuba: Something Old, Something New, was selected as the recipient of the inaugural ITEA Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording at the 2006 ITEC in Denver, Colorado. His subsequent release, Tuba Helper, was a Bobo finalist at the 2008 ITEC held in Cincinnati, Ohio.

His summer teaching activities include a position at the Interlochen Arts Camp.