David Maker

Associate Professor of Music

David Maker is associate head of the Department of Music at the University of Connecticut, where he has taught music theory, ear training, orchestration, arranging, composition, and beginning piano. He holds degrees and diplomas from Michigan State University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Calgary, with doctoral studies in conducting at the College–Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.

A former band director, Maker wrote over 350 arrangements and marching show designs for UConn, Boston College, University of Cincinnati, several New England high schools, and drum corps in Holland and Italy. He has adjudicated for the Massachusetts Instrumental Conductors Association, the World Association for Marching and Show Bands, and the World Music Contest, Kerkrade (the Netherlands), among others. He has composed and arranged for orchestras, choirs, bands, organ, and chamber ensembles. He founded and conducted the Classic Brass, a British-style brass band in Connecticut. Today he writes for the award-winning Spielmannszug Rödemis of Husum, Germany.

Originally a percussionist and keyboard player, Maker began carillon studies at Trinity College, Hartford, under Daniel Kehoe, in 1995. He studied further with Sally Slade Warner in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and most recently with Frans Haagen and Henk Verhoef at the Netherlands Carillon School in Amersfoort. He became a carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1999. Maker has concertized extensively in the eastern U.S., the Netherlands, and Portugal. His compositions for carillon are published by American Carillon Music Editions. His "adapted change ringing" for carillon has generated much interest here and abroad. In 1994 Maker began stewardship of UConn's Austin Cornelius Dunham Carillon, performing, teaching, and undertaking many public relations initiatives. Now he serves as interim carillonneur of Trinity College.