Dave Bontrager

Dave Bontrager was born the youngest of three musical children to a pair of educators who originally met in choir. According to his sainted Mother, he suddenly began to loudly sing along with her at just a few months of age. In an effort to shut him up, his parents introduced him to the piano at the age of 5, only to discover a massive increase in the interior decibel level of their home. This racket continued for over a decade until he finally left to juggle collegiate study with several years of touring professionally in various groups before eventually settling in Omaha. When not performing approximately 160 times per year throughout the region, Dave enjoys teaching piano and voice to students of all ages at both the Omaha and Bellevue Dietze locations, and spending time with his incredibly patient wife and family. Artists he has opened for or performed with include: Travis Howard (Nashville Star), Frank Hannon & Jeff Keith (Tesla), Delbert McClinton, Davy Jones, The B-52s, The Legendary Wailers, .38 Special and Ben Stein. Current projects include: Hotel Desperado (A Tribute To The Eagles), ReCaptured (A Tribute To Journey), Ventura Blvd (A Tom Petty Celebration), The Fishheads, Sounds Fishy, The Tequila Brothers and more (omahabands.com).

Past instructors include: Larry Harms (Roland Corp), Ken Rodgers (Hesston College), Charlotte Kroeker (Notre Dame), William Everett (Washburn University) and James Johnson (UNO). Member, Omaha Music Teachers Association, Bellevue-Papillion Music Teachers Association, MTNA. www.nebraskapiano.com