David Wright (arranger) explained

David Wright
Birth Date:1 December 1949
Birth Place:Mattoon, Illinois
Genre:Barbershop, a cappella
Occupation:Arranger, coach, professor
Instrument:Voice
Associated Acts:Ambassadors of Harmony

David Lee Wright (born December 1, 1949) is a mathematics professor, barbershop arranger, and Associate Director of the Ambassadors of Harmony (AOH).[1] He is a noted a cappella historian and arranger,[2] [3] especially in the barbershop style where in 12 of 18 years from 1999 to 2016, his arrangements resulted in chorus gold medals at the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International Contest.[4] Wright travels the world as a barbershop historian, coach, and mathematics lecturer.[5] [6] [7] [8]

Early life

Wright grew up in Mattoon, Illinois, and currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from David Lipscomb University in Nashville then earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Columbia University in New York. He joined the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis in 1972. He is married to Sandi Wright, Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champion of 1978 and 1986 with Tetrachords and Ambiance.[9]

Career

Wright is retired from his position as a professor of Mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also served as Chair of the Mathematics Department for several years.[10] His research of affine algebraic geometry and polynomial automorphisms has led to publications and invitations to speak at international mathematics conferences. He designed and teaches a university course in Mathematics and Music, and has directed seminars across the globe on that topic.[11] [12] [13] [14]

Barbershop harmony

Wright is an arranger and composer of vocal music, where his work often integrates the close harmony barbershop style with jazz, gospel, contemporary a cappella and more.[15] He is the Associate Director of the St. Charles Ambassadors of Harmony, an award-winning male chorus of 130 singers. He was inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Society Hall of Fame in 2008. He has arranged hundreds of songs in the barbershop style, including some co-arranged with Deke Sharon,[16] and has earned four international chorus gold medals with the Ambassadors of Harmony. As a quartet singer he has won three district championships. He has appeared on national radio and TV broadcasts, and has authored several articles on vocal harmony, as well as a textbook on mathematics and music.[17] [18] [19]

Notes and References

  1. News: Golden moment for area chorus. Bassett. Kathie. August 10, 2009. The Alton Telegraph. ProQuest.
  2. News: Just a Bunch of Guys Who Har-mo-niiiiize; The Sound of Barbershop Quartets Echoes Happily Through the Land. Weber. Bruce. August 11, 1998. The New York Times. September 7, 2017.
  3. Web site: An Examination of the Barbershop Style. Wright. David. August 7, 2013. Barbershop Harmony Society. October 30, 2017. November 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171102011936/http://www.barbershop.org/about-us/history-of-barbershop/roots-of-barbershop-harmony/an-examination-of-the-barbershop-style/. dead.
  4. Web site: Meet the Arrangers: Deke Sharon and David Wright. February 17, 2017. Barbershop Harmony Society. October 30, 2017.
  5. News: En los institutos matemáticos de Estados Unidos hay pianos. Silio. Elisa. October 2, 2013. El Pais. September 7, 2017.
  6. News: Advanced Arranging Seminar with David Wright. Spring 2009. Harmony Rag. October 30, 2017. 3.
  7. Web site: Jim Henry and David Wright Coach Vocal Majority. May 19, 2014. The Vocal Majority. October 30, 2017.
  8. Web site: Arranging for A Cappella Barbershop Music. March 19, 2016. Baruch College. October 30, 2017.
  9. News: Stars and Stripes: A new breed of barbershop musicians thrives in St. Louis. Dorr. Dave. December 16, 1994. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 7, 2017. F1.
  10. Book: Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Getting In... to College. Canfield. Jack. Hansen. Mark Victor. Simon & Schuster. 2008. 978-1935096276. United States of America. 348.
  11. News: Mathematics meets music: Three researchers attempt to bring some rigor to the math of melody.. Phillips. Lee. March 6, 2016. Ars Technica. September 7, 2017.
  12. News: Amazingly mathematical music. Lutz. Diana. June 14, 2012. The Source. October 30, 2017.
  13. Web site: David Wright: A Conversation. Wright. David. Thomas. Jude. March 12, 2016. Voices of Gotham. October 30, 2017.
  14. Web site: Lock and Ring: A History of Barbershop Harmony. symphonyspace. October 30, 2017.
  15. Web site: GOLD MEDAL MOMENTS – 039 – DAVID WRIGHT. Shaver. Toby. July 18, 2017. Gold Medal Moments. November 29, 2017. December 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171202064743/http://goldmedalmoments.com/gold-medal-moments-039-david-wright/. dead.
  16. Web site: David Wright: Arranger. Primarily Acappella. September 7, 2017.
  17. News: Professor David Wright Analyzes Music With Math. Early. Rosalind. September 18, 2012. St. Louis Magazine. September 7, 2017.
  18. Book: Wright, David. Mathematics and Music. American Mathematical Society. 2009. 978-0821848739. United States of America.
  19. News: The African-American Roots of Barbershop (and why it matters). Wright. David. January 2015. The Harmonizer. October 30, 2017. 10–15.

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