David Jacobs

David Jacobs is Associate Professor of Conducting and Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Oregon, where he conducts the UO Symphony Orchestra and directs the graduate program in orchestral conducting. He also serves as Music Director of the Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestra.

Dr. Jacobs began his career as a professional orchestral musician, performing extensively with leading ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, New World Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, and Sarasota Opera. During his seven years as a performing musician, he developed a deep interest in conducting, and in 2007—despite having had limited formal training at the time—was accepted into the conducting program at the Eastman School of Music. There, he worked with nearly every student ensemble and received several honors, including the Frederick Fennell Fellowship and the Walter Hagen Prize for Excellence in Conducting.

While a graduate fellow at Eastman, Dr. Jacobs developed a strong affinity for working with ambitious young musicians, a commitment that has since become nationally recognized. He has been invited to guest conduct at institutions including Baylor University, Florida State University, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has twice returned to the Eastman School of Music as a guest artist-in-residence.

Dr. Jacobs is also an active scholar, having authored several articles on conducting and musical interpretation. He has presented lectures and master classes to audiences worldwide, with areas of expertise that include conducting pedagogy, subdivision techniques, musical semiology, Russian symphonic repertoire, and musical hermeneutics. He has earned a strong international reputation as a conducting teacher, attracting students from around the world. His former students have gone on to study at institutions such as Peabody, Eastman, Michigan State University, Bard College, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Aspen Conducting Academy. They now hold positions as professional orchestra assistant conductors with ensembles including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, as well as roles as community orchestra conductors, youth symphony directors, and university faculty members.

In addition to his academic and pedagogical work, Dr. Jacobs maintains an active international conducting career. He has guest conducted professional orchestras on three continents, including the Palm Beach Symphony, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria), Orquesta Sinfónica EAFIT (Colombia), and the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, where he has appeared twice. His guest engagements have encompassed a broad repertoire, from core symphonic works to contemporary and festival programming, and reflect a growing international presence alongside his university leadership.

David Jacobs appears on four commercially released recordings. He served as assistant conductor on Manhattan Music, a collaboration between the Canadian Brass and the Eastman Wind Ensemble released by Opening Day Recordings; as conductor of Let Others Name You, an eclectic fusion of contemporary orchestral music and Balinese gamelan performed by the Ossia Chamber Orchestra on New World Records; and as conductor and instrumental performer on We Proclaim, released by Ekklesia. His most recent recording, released in 2023 on the Naxos label, features Alexandre Dossin and the University of Oregon Philharmonia performing George Walker’s Piano Concerto.

• DMA 2011, Conducting, Eastman School of Music
• MA 2002, Music Education, University of Central Florida
• BMus 2000, Music Performance, Duquesne University

HONORS 

• 2007 Frederick Fennell Fellowship for Advanced Conducting Study
• 2009 Walter Hagen Prize, Excellence in Conducting
• 2011 Bruno Walter Fellowship
• 2011 Cabrillo Festival Conducting Workshop, outstanding participant
• 2013 Thelma A. Robinson Award, nominee