David Mairs composer / arranger

Mairs began his professional career playing Solo Horn for the elite U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C. Following his military service, he became Associate Principal Horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Solo Horn of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet, and a member of the New Pittsburgh Quintet brass ensemble.

Mairs’ interest in conducting led him to the Flint Symphony where he served as Assistant Conductor and Music Administrator. He moved to the San Antonio Symphony in 1988 where he served as Resident Conductor until 1999, directing classical concerts, audience-pleasing pops, and educational and family concerts. Mairs also hosted the weekly “Symphony Spotlight” on KPAC radio.

Mairs has conducted leading orchestras around the country including the Houston, Dallas, Colorado Springs, Dayton, Saginaw Bay, Phoenix, Charlotte, West Shore, Kansas City, and Ft. Worth symphonies. He is an annual guest conductor with the Flint Symphony.

Mairs has been a leading Texas music educator for over 35 years, and was named Denton ISD’s 2010 Teacher of the Year, and frequently directs the Austin Symphony educational and family concerts. Mairs has served as Conductor of Orchestras at UTSA, Music and Administrative Director of the North East School of the Arts, and Music Director of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. Mairs has led sessions of the League of American Orchestras Conductors’ Workshop, designed to teach up-and-coming conductors their craft.

Mairs’s passion for education and talent for communicating with audiences of all ages make the annual Mid-Texas Symphony’s Children’s Concerts outstanding, yet fun, educational experiences. As the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise wrote, Mairs “is looking for a lot more than offering students a unique experience. He’s looking to change lives.”

In addition to conducting, Mairs composes and arranges orchestral, band, and choral music. His compositions include “Lacrimosa et Benedictus (For the Victims),” written in response to the events of 9/11; this work was performed on September 11, 2011 when the Mid-Texas Symphony opened its 34th season. Mairs has arranged numerous choral and orchestral works, including many for children’s chorus heard at the Mid-Texas Symphony annual Christmas concert and "Classical Carols," an arrangement for the Mid-Texas Symphony Chorus and the CMA Youth Choir, performed in December 2012.

Mairs holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His wife Beth is a retired music educator and member of the Mid-Texas Symphony horn section.