David Van Gilder

For more than 50 years, David Van Gilder has been crashing, booming, and clanging his way to mastering all manner of percussion instruments, from the timpani to snare drums and from mallet instruments to the triangle. He first began taking lessons as a 4th grader, performing in middle school, high school, and college bands. David understands music as one of the oldest artistic expressions of culture and connectedness, and he loves exploring the various ways modern cultures express that across the globe. He once joined a band in Botswana, playing South African-style music, and currently, David performs with the Fort Wayne Scottish Pipes & Drums, a traditional Scottish highland-style band.

When not teaching or performing, David is a practicing attorney with a Juris Doctor from Washington College of Law, American University. His undergraduate degree is in Environmental Studies and Biology, and he still loves to spend time outdoors birding.