Since 1991, David Gompper has been professor of composition in the UI School of Music, Director of the Center for New Music (CNM), and this year, interim director of the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra. Through Gompper's leadership, the CNM supports and disseminates new music by students and young composers while giving student musicians a platform to perform contemporary music. As a composer, Gompper has created works for vocal, chamber ensembles and orchestra that have been performed and recorded in Europe and the United States. As a pianist, Gompper is passionate about collaborating with and composing for fellow musicians. He travels the world performing with violinist Wolfgang David, cellist Timothy Gill, bassist Volkan Orhon and clarinetist Michael Norsworthy.

Stephen Swanson and David Gompper toured extensively with two different recitals which were released in compact disc format by Albany Records.

Was my Brother in the Battle? SONGS OF WAR (TROY 1056) was created as Steve’s personal protest to Operation Iraqi Freedom, launched by the United States on March 20, 2003. The songs are “about the individuals involved in America’s historic military conflicts, their friends, and their families – harsh, ironic, funny, patriotic, poignant, disturbing – images of America at war.”

Animal Songs: Bestiaries in English, French, & German (TROY1365) features a song cycle composed for the occasion by David Gompper to words by University of Iowa emeritus professor and former Iowa Poet Laureate Marvin Bell. The program also includes songs about animals by Maurice Ravel, Max Reger, and the cabaret duo Flanders & Swann.