David Torns - Associate Conductor

Recently appointed Associate Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, David Torns continues to be recognized for his vibrant personality, musical depth, and his ability to communicate an infectious joy for music to both musicians and audiences alike.

Mr. Torns also holds the post of Principal Pops Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with pops artists such as the Wicked Divas, Spectrum Motown, Classical Mystery Tour, Doug LaBrecque, Debbie Gravitte, Christiane Noll, and Hugh Panaro. He recently collaborated with Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, and American Idol finalists Haley Scarnato, Matt Giraud, and LaKisha Jones.

Mr. Torns has worked with the Lansing Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Astoria Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and Acadiana Symphony Orchestra among others.

As Music Director of the Louisiana Youth Orchestras, he is a passionate promoter of music education. Mr. Torns has appeared in concert with student orchestras throughout the United States including the Vanderbilt University Symphony, Nashville Youth Symphony, West Virginia University Symphony, the North Carolina School for the Arts “Musica Piccola” Orchestra, and the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra. He conducted the 2013 All-Southern California Honor Orchestra. Mr. Torns designs and implements engaging educational concerts reaching over 10,000 students each year.

Equally at home in the theatre, David has guided the collaboration of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker” since 2010. He has also led orchestras for productions by Playmakers of Baton Rouge, Theatre Baton Rouge, and Central Community Theatre.

Mr. Torns is an alumnus of many prestigious music festivals including the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and the Chautauqua Institution. He has performed in master classes with Harold Farberman, Marin Alsop, Apo Hsu, Guillermo Figueroa, Karen Deal, Eduardo Navega, Leon Botstein, Donald Portnoy, Samuel Jones, and Paul Vermel. He has also studied with Kenneth Kiesler, Markand Thakar, and Timothy Muffitt.

Mr. Torns was selected as a participant in the first Conductors Symposium with the Omaha Symphony, performing in master classes with Thomas Wilkins and Mark Gibson. Selected for the American Symphony Orchestra League’s Donald Thulean Conducting Workshop in Atlanta, he has also worked with James Paul, Robert Spano, and Michael Morgan.

A graduate of the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University, Torns began his musical studies at the age of five on the violin in his native city of San Diego, California.