David Dunbar is a conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, and visual artist residing in the northern Colorado area. Please be sure to check out his musical pursuits on the Music page of this website.
Bachelor of Music (BM) in Choral Education (1994)
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Mentored by Dr. Mack Wilberg
Master of Music (MM) in Orchestral Conducting (1998)
University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Mentored by the late Anshel Brusilow
Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (2003)
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Mentored by Christopher Young
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Conducting (2017)
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Mentored by Dr. Thomas Cockrell
Academic Work
Dissertation (a.k.a. "The Document")
Completed December 2017 · University of Arizona
The following document has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library.
Brief quotations from this document are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the author. This document is under copyright by the author and is registered with the United States Library of Congress.
Below you will find a collection of videos showcasing Dr. Dunbar's original music, conducting performances, and miscellaneous endeavors. (For a closer look at David's visual artistry, visit the Artwork page.) All scored video clips are used with permission and are under copyright of the owners indicated.
Studio Logo & Mystery Alaska Main Title
Recorded at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA (2002)
Video copyright held by Hollywood Pictures.
(click here to view the full score)
Demon Awakes
Recorded at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, Ca (2003)
Video copyright held by Walt Disney Pictures.
(click here to view the full score)
Flapjacks for Charlie
Recorded at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA (2003)
Video copyright held by Roy Export S.A.S.
The Psychoharmonic Rag
David Dunbar, piano
Copyright 2025 David Dunbar
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 (excerpt)
Chia-Chun Ko, piano
Arizona Symphony · David Dunbar, conductor
Artwork
Statement from the Artist
I have always loved sitting down to a blank piece of paper. There's just something creatively primal about it. I remember as a little boy, thinking of millions of things that I could draw and fill up a clean white sheet of paper with. And fill it up I did, often with aliens, starships, mazes, or codes and ciphers.
It wasn't until college, however, that my one-line technique emerged. It began with a poster contest: "One Line Says It All," aimed at promoting on-campus living. I took pen to paper and with one single line created a well-recognized landscape of the campus and dormitory. It was a winner, and my visual artistry was borne.
Since then I have refined my technique, working with a variety of pens, papers, water colors, and exploring new ideas. But ultimately the core concept of my work has remained unchanged: Art that is created with one single uninterrupted line which never crosses over itself and has a clear beginning but a very inconspicuous ending. To the casual observer, it is art. To the more observant, it is art and puzzle at the same time…Where does the line end? Be forewarned, it could take you hours to find out.
David Dunbar, The Line King
Pirate Storm
Created using an acid-free silver gel pen on archival stygian black paper, the line begins at the top of the pirate ship.
Click here to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
Crossing the Line
Created using acid-free blue and red pens on archival white paper, and all 1,320 words of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Click here to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
Deadline
Created using acid-free red and black pens on archival white paper, the line begins with the red line near the bottom center. This work was created to celebrate the artist's accomplishment of passing his doctoral oral exams on 18 April 2014. The full title of this piece is Deadline: The Death of Self-doubt.
Click here to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
Equatorial Blue
Created using an acid-free silver gel pen on archival blue paper, the line begins in the center of the compass near bottom right. In keeping with the artist's playful penchant for titles relating to lines, the focus of this piece is on the imaginary line which divides the world in half: the equator. Click the image below to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
XIX
Created during the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 (XIX is the number 19 in roman numerals) and using acid free pens and water colors on archival white paper. The spectre of the disease loomed large everywhere, including, as depicted herein, over the city of Denver, Colorado. The line begins at the top of the coronavirus, hovering over the hand of Death. Click the image below to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
The Four Elements
Created using multiple colored acid-free pens and water colors of the four classical elements: air, earth, fire, and water. Each element is its own piece and includes a custom cut matching paper border. Additionally, each element is an ambigram, meaning that it reads the same when turned upside-down. Click the image below to see these works in full (opens in a new browser window). Click HERE to see the same image upside down.
Purple Maze
Created using an acid-free purple pen on archival white paper. The line that makes up the walls of this fully-functioning (and rather difficult) maze begins in the center circle. However, the entrance to the maze is at the top center (look for the arrow). This work is a play-on-words with the song 'Purple Haze' by Jimi Hendrix. In fact, if you search long enough, you might even find Jimi's name embedded within the walls. Click the image below to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
Self Portrait
Created using an acid-free black pen on archival white paper. The line begins in the artist's left ear (a befitting starting place for any musician). Click the image below to see this work in full (opens in a new browser window).
Contact
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Bachelor of Music (BM) in Choral Education (1994)
Master of Music (MM) in Orchestral Conducting (1998)
Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (2003)
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Conducting (2017)
