Headshot of David B. Niethamer

David B. Niethamer

Instructor, clarinet
  • Profile

    David Niethamer began his conducting career at Lebanon Valley College, where he conducted a run of "A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and was student conductor of the college orchestra. 

    Appointed Principal Clarinetist of the Richmond Symphony in 1979, he appeared thirteen times as soloist with the orchestra during his 23-year tenure. 

    In addition to his orchestral career, Niethamer has maintained a busy schedule of chamber music, recitals and teaching. He has performed at the Albemarle Festival with the Monticello Trio and the Brentano Quartet, with the Kandinsky Trio, the Composers Quartet, and the Lenox String Quartet. From 1982 until 1992, Niethamer was the Clarinetist and Artistic Director of the Roxbury Chamber Players and Artistic Director of the Richmond Chamber Players’ “Interlude” series from 1994 through 1997. 

    An interest in the work of living composers has led to collaborations with Karel Husa, Gunther Schuller, and Ned Rorem. In Virginia, Niethamer has worked closely with Allan Blank, Judith Shatin, and Joel Suben. Niethamer’s recordings are on the Opus One, MMC, and Elan labels.

    In 2002, after 23 years at the "other end of the baton," Niethamer became the conductor of the University of Richmond Wind Ensemble. He has also guest conducted the Longwood University Wind Symphony and the Commonwealth Winds. Niethamer continues to perform as a clarinetist with the National Gallery Orchestra in Washington D.C., the Virginia Symphony, and with the Richmond Chamber Players. He retired as director of the UR Wind Ensemble in May 2019 but continues to teach clarinet lessons to UR students.