Bio:
Dave Bontrager (Keyboards & Vocals) 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 a desperate 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 150 times per year throughout the region, Dave enjoys being the parent of a hilarious 19-year-old, teaching piano and voice to students of all ages at both the Omaha and Bellevue Dietze Music locations, and recently completed his 14th year of service as the staff musician at a local church.
Artists he has opened for or performed with include: Travis Howard (Nashville Star), Frank Hannon & Jeff Keith (Tesla), Todd Roberson & Troy Johnson (Stephen Pearcy), Michael Kelsey, Delbert McClinton, Davy Jones, The B-52s, The Legendary Wailers, .38 Special and Ben Stein. Current projects include: ReCaptured (A Tribute To Journey), Hotel Desperado (A Tribute To The Eagles), Ventura Blvd (A Tom Petty Celebration), The Fishheads, Sounds Fishy, The Enablers and The Tequila Brothers.
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, MTNA.