David Kushner
School of Music

Professor Emeritus
T: 392-6674
F:
E: dkushner@ufl.edu

Address:
301 AUD P.O. Box 117900
Gainesville, Fl 32611-7900

David Z. Kushner, Professor of Musicology Emeritus in the University of Florida School of Music, holds the degrees B.M. (Boston University), M.M. (College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati), and Ph.D. (University of Michigan). He directed graduate seminars in American Music, Nationalism in Music, Music Criticism, 19th-Century Music, 20th-Century Music, Piano Literature, Chamber Music Literature, and Opera History, and continues to supervise doctoral dissertations.

Professor Kushner is a recipient of the MTNA’s Master Teacher Certificate in Music History, the State of Florida’s TIP (Teaching Incentive Program) and PEP (Professorial Excellence Program) Awards, the American Biographical Institute’s Most Noted Speaker Award, and the International Biographical Centre’s Award of Excellence. He has published in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, The International Dictionary of Opera, The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, The Encyclopedia of American Jewish History, and in such journals as American Music, American Music Teacher, College Music Symposium, Journal of Musicological Research, Min-Ad (journal of the Israel Musicological Society) and Opera Journal. His book Ernest Bloch: A Guide to Research (Garland) has been described as “a reference work that is enjoyable to read” (Notes) and one that “provides well-written, evaluative annotations that easily stimulate a researcher’s interest in examining the sources” (Choice). His most recent book, The Ernest Bloch Companion (Greenwood), integrates the composer’s life and works, treats the influence of religion on his creative efforts, and encourages a rethinking of his place in the history of twentieth-century music. “Kushner is today’s foremost specialist on Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)” (Choice). This book is “the most informative publication on the composer’s life and works currently in general circulation…The book contains much interesting and provocative information” (Fanfare). It is “an excellent survey of the relationship between the life of Ernest Bloch and his compositions…A fine book for admirers of Bloch” (The Opera Journal). Dr. Kushner’s article, “Religious Ambiguity in the Life and Works of Ernest Bloch,” appears in Min-Ad (2004, vol. 3), the online journal of the Israel Musicological Society. His article, “John Powell: His Racial and Cultural Ideologies,” appears in the 2006 issue of the same journal (vol. 2), while his most recent publication, “Reflections on the State Songs of Florida,” is also located in Min-Ad (2007).

Professor Kushner has lectured and performed throughout the United States, and in Canada, Israel, Kenya, Australia, and in eastern and western Europe. In 1998, he was Visiting Professor of Musicology at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He lectured at that institution as well as at Tel-Aviv University and the National Library of Israel. He has presented papers before such organizations as the International Musicological Society, ‘’Locating the Victorians” International Conference, International Jewish Music Conference, International Congress on Arts and Communications (Nairobi, Edinburgh, Oxford), Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Nineteenth-Century Studies Association, Society for American Music, and College Music Society (national and international).

Dr. Kushner, who was the first president of the AMS Southern Chapter and a charter member and former president of the CMS Southern Chapter, is a co-founder and charter life member of the American Liszt Society, a life member of the Music Teachers National Association, a life member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a member of the Board of Directors of the Nineteenth-Century Studies Association, and a member of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda. He has also been recognized for his “Recitals in the Schools” series, which brings art music to students in the elementary, middle, and high schools. This unique enhancement to music education has received acclaim from students, parents, teachers, administrators, and civic and political leaders.

Professor Kushner’s biography appears in The International Who’s Who in Music, The Dictionary of International Biography, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who among America’s Teachers ,The International Who’s Who in Education, and The International Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Achievement.

 

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