David P Dahl

David P Dahl

David P. Dahl (b. 1937) is Professor of Music and University Organist Emeritus at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington, where he was a member of the music faculty for thirty years. Dahl is also the Director of Music Ministries Emeritus for Christ Episcopal Church, Tacoma, where he served as a church musician for forty years.

As an organ performer, Dahl has presented many recitals and hymn festivals, including performances at the national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and Organ Historical Society. One of the major advocates in the second half of the twentieth century for mechanical action organs (both new and historical), Dahl has been an organ consultant to many churches, institutions, and organ builders (especially in the Pacific Northwest) and designed the specifications of a number of instruments. His compositional output for organ dates primarily from the years following his retirement from Pacific Lutheran University and includes several suites and numerous hymn preludes and partitas. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Organ Historical Society, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Pacific Lutheran University, and the Bishop's Cross from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.