Dr. David Littrell is a University Distinguished Professor of Music at Kansas State University where he conducts the University Orchestra and teaches or plays the cello, baroque cello, five-string violoncello piccolo, double bass, viola da gamba, and electric cello. As a reflection of his interest in the music education of young people, he is the Director of String Fling, an annual event at Kansas State that attracts 750 string students from Kansas . He also conducts the Gold Orchestra, which includes 58 Manhattan area string students in grades 5-10. The Gold Orchestra toured England in 1997, Seattle and British Columbia in 1999, and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2001. They performed at KMEA in 2004 and at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Dallas in March 2004. The Gold Orchestra will return to Carnegie Hall in 2006.

He served six years as Editor of the Books and Music Reviews section of the American String Teacher, and he was Editor of ASTA’s two-volume String Syllabus. He was the Editor and Compiler of GIA Publications’ two volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra.

Dr. Littrell twice received the Stamey Undergraduate Teaching Award at Kansas State University . In 1994 the Kansas Chapter of ASTA awarded him the Certificate of Merit. He was the national President of the American String Teachers Association in 2002-2004 and planned ASTA’s first stand-alone conference in March 2003. He represented ASTA on a trip to France in March 2004 to learn about import opportunities for French string instruments and bows. In France, he purchased a viola da gamba, viola da gamba bow, a viola and a double bass.

Dr. Littrell adjudicates solo and orchestra contests and is a clinician and conductor throughout the United States. His other interests include horseback riding on trail rides with his wife, Laurel, as well as Bible reading and outdoor work on their seven-acre country lot.