After nearly 20 years in the Permian Basin of making his mark on the culture and music of the desert, David Corman is moving back home.
Corman is taking a position at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan., as director of choir and voice. He is currently minster of music at First United Methodist Church, adjunct professor of voice and director of vocal ensemble at University of Texas Permian Basin, and former director of vocal studies at Odessa College.
He and his wife, Kimberly, were planning to retire there eventually.
Corman has tons of family in the area. Kimberly’s family is in the Basin.
“It’s my home and this just really came out of the blue,” Corman said.
He added that Kansas Wesleyan has first-class facilities and a strong fine arts program.
“I was interested in contributing to it. Interestingly enough, they have two Brazilian musicians. One is the head of orchestra and the other is the head of piano. I’m just so impressed with both of them, and a wonderful jazz band person; a wonderful former Broadway dancer. She’s the head of the music theatre and theatre program; great talent,” Corman said.
He added that he likes the idea of building on to a heritage that is already there.
“My grandparents were at this university in 1905 and then my parents met there in 1946. My mother was a wonderful pianist. She accompanied the choirs there from 1942 to 1946 and in the 1970s and 80s. She had a grand piano that we donated to the university in 2006, in honor of her. Then, of course, I have many uncles and aunts that have gone to this place,” Corman said.
He actually went to Friends University, which had Quaker beginnings, and was — and is – known as a good music school.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and another in vocal performance and a master’s in music from Yale University. Corman also has what’s called an artist diploma from the Julliard School of Music in New York.
His career has taken him all over the world to sing opera.
Corman is not the only music professor leaving the area. Frank Eychaner, the Kathlyn Cosper Dunagan Professor of the Humanities and Music Department Chair at UTPB, and Jeb Harris, an adjunct voice instructor at UTPB, associate choir director at Permian High School and First United Methodist Church organist, and Rochelle Woolston, an adjunct in voice and musical theater at UTPB, also are departing.
Corman said he really prayed about leaving, but things worked out.
“Texas is a beautiful place. It has been incredibly gracious to us; to me,” Corman said.
He added that he can’t imagine his life without his students.
“I was counting them up the other day. I’ve kind of gotten up to a wacky number, of I think, it’s somewhere around 1,500 students; both voice and choir,” Corman said.
Eychaner, who is good friends with Corman, said anytime someone with Corman’s experience of working at the highest levels internationally comes to a small community like Odessa-Midland, they bring their depth and breadth of experience that is life-changing for students.
“When you add that to David’s considerable gifts as a teacher, as a communicator, as a conductor, it’s no surprise that his impact here in West Texas has been remarkable,” Eychaner said.
He added that Corman and his family have become institutions in West Texas.
“(I’m) excited for him and the new chapter of impact that he’ll have at Kansas Wesleyan,” Eychaner said.
Corman and his wife, Kimberly, have four children and three grandchildren.
