1990 Swan Award Winner: David Thorsen

David Thorsen is Professor Emeritus, and a founding member of the School of Music at California State University, Fullerton. He served as Coordinator of Choral Music and Director of the University Singers from 1960 until his retirement in 1995. He is a Past National President of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Church Musicians, and served on the Board of the International Federation of Choral Music.

Professor Thorsen has conducted All-State Honor Choirs in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Iowa, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Hawaii, Alaska, and California. In 1987, the Cal-State Fullerton University Singers performed at the ACDA National Convention in Dallas, and represented the United States at the first “World Symposium on Choral Music” in Vienna, Austria. The Singers have sung with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta and Carlo Maria Giulini.
In the summers, Professor Thorsen taught, conducted, and organized music festivals. Fifteen summers were spent with the Oregon Bach Festival, five with the Alaska Music Festival, and five with the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart, Germany.
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Since his retirement from CSUF, he performs and teaches “sleight of hand” magic at the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, California. He has also appeared as a professional magician on several TV specials.

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