DAVE CALKINS is a guitarist, singer, pianist, conductor, producer, composer and filmmaker who brings an eclectic blend of classical, jazz, rock, flamenco and Indian classical styles to his music and films. He has released more than three dozen recordings as a solo artist and producer, and his films include documentaries, features, and music productions. He has been conductor, producer and artistic director of Orchestra 21; the Expedition and Explorations series of recordings and films; Scottsbluff Chamber Ensemble and is now head of Ancova Empowerment Project. 

 

He was a featured singer and conductor at the NAMN Conference in Los Angeles, (sponsored by Yamaha), and conducted the world premiere of the first staged performance of John Rutter's choral opera "Wind in the Willows" in Jackson, Wyoming. He was also featured in a solo concert at that conference. He has performed three times at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, twice as guitarist-composer and once to debut his original musical theater work "Precipice," in September 2008. He released his film "Debut: The Road to Carnegie Hall" at Carnegie Hall in April 2006.

 

His first film "Wilderness Journeys," was under contract with National Public Television from 2001 through 2004 which played in all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. His other music films include "Journey to the Passage," which was partially shot in Yellowstone Park, and "Music of the Isles," which was filmed in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. He produced and composed music for Dr. Anne Talbot's film "Bosnian Spring: Transformation of Cleansing," which was shot in Sarajevo and debuted at the International Seminar on Psychological Trauma at the University of Denver. He released the feature film "Alexandra the Great" in 2005 and has three feature films in production: "St. Peter's Crew," "Both Sides of Midnight," and "Precipice." All recordings and films are distributed internationally by CMG Distribution.

 

Calkins has also been featured on numerous television and radio shows. He continues to teach music and film, and many of his students have become professional performers with appearances on the New York stage as well as on national television. He studied with Nicholas Laurienti at the Denver Opera Company at the Manhattan School of Music, and with Grammy Award-winning singer George Shirley. He has a Master's degree in Music Performance from the University of Wyoming.