David Vonderheide, trumpet

David is the Principal Trumpet of the Virginia Symphony. He grew up in Madison, Indiana and graduated from Northwestern University in 1996. He currently resides in Portsmouth, Va. with his wife, Virginia Symphony violinist Elizabeth Vonderheide.

Vonderheide joined the Virginia Symphony in 1998 as Second Trumpet, a position he held until 2010 when he stepped into the role of Principal Trumpet. With the VSO, he has been featured several times as a soloist, including a performance of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto and Copland’s Quiet City.

David has been an adjunct faculty member at The College of William and Mary for over 20 years. He has also taught at the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport University. Vonderheide has also been a contributor to a series of books about the teaching philosophy of his legendary teacher Vincent Chicowicz. As one of his prominent former students, Vonderheide has written segments for the books and recorded material for a companion CD recording.

David was also the interim Principal Trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for the 2012-2013 season. While in the ASO, he participated in a tour to Carnegie Hall and recorded with the orchestra, including a Grammy Nominated CD of the music of Sibelius.

Other noted recordings of David’s playing can be found on the Naxos label with the Virginia Chamber Player’s recordings of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale and Walton’s Facade. There are numerous CD’s as second trumpet and principal trumpet with the VSO, as well as two with the San Francisco Symphony.