David Van Vactor

Full biography David Van Vactor

David Van Vactor was an American composer, conductor, and flutist born on May 8, 1906, in Plymouth, Indiana. He was named "Composer Laureate of the State of Tennessee" in 1984. He passed away on March 24, 1994, in Los Angeles, California.

Throughout his career, Van Vactor wrote a wide range of music, including symphonies, concertos, vocal music, chamber works, and music for film and television. Many of his compositions were performed by well-known orchestras, such as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Van Vactor also served as a conductor and worked with various symphony orchestras throughout his career, including the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Van Vactor was an accomplished flutist and performed as a soloist and in various chamber ensembles.

Van Vactor's music is known for its lyrical and expressive qualities, as well as its use of traditional forms and structures. He had many admirers, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by music lovers and aficionados around the world.

Van Vactor's music is archived in the George F. DeVine Music Library at the University of Tennessee, and the library also holds a collection of his personal papers and correspondence. Overall, David Van Vactor was an accomplished and respected composer, conductor, and flutist who made significant contributions to the world of music.