David
Wright is a professor in the Department of Mathematics at
Washington Universiity in St. Louis, where he currently serves
as Department Chair. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics
from Columbia University, New York City. A leading researcher
in the fields of affine algebraic geometry and polynomial
automorphisms, he has produced landmark publications in these
areas and has been an invited speaker at numerous international
mathematics conferences. He designed and teaches a university
course in Mathematics and Music.
As
a musician, David is an arranger
and composer, where his work often integrates the close harmony
style with jazz, blues, gospel, country, doo-wop, and contemporary
a cappella. He has been on the leadership team of the St.
Charles Ambassadors of Harmony since 1981, serving as director
from 1981 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001. He also serves
as a musical consultant and arranger for numerous other vocal
ensembles, including the eleven-time International Champion
Dallas Vocal Majority. In the Barbershop Harmony Society's
judging system he helped design the Music Category and served
as its first Category Specialist. As arranger and historian
David has been featured in national radio and TV broadcasts
at home and abroad, and has authored several articles on barbershop
harmony and its role in the world of vocal harmony.
His
wife, Sandi, a double gold medalist in Sweet Adelines, sang
baritone in the renowned championship quartet Ambiance, for
whom David was arranger and advisor. Sandi directs the St.
Louis Harmony Chorus.