Dr. David Cyzak (*see-zak) is Principal Oboe with the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra and oboist, vocalist, composer, and arranger for the American Gothic Duo, performing alongside SEISO Principal Flute, Rose Bishop. A performer, educator, composer, and arts entrepreneur, Cyzak’s work bridges classical performance, poetry, spoken word, popular music, and contemporary interdisciplinary collaboration.

An ASCAP composer/publisher, Cyzak is developing a creative company spanning entertainment, music publishing, and music-related products. Through this work, he is building a catalog of original compositions, arrangements, educational materials, and performance projects for audiences seeking imaginative, accessible new music.

Cyzak previously taught at the University of Iowa, Middle Tennessee State University, Bradley University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois College, Illinois Central College, and the University of Illinois Springfield. His teaching has included applied oboe (BM, MM, DMA), reed making, chamber music, music industry, music technology, music theory, composition, music history, and woodwind techniques.

His performances, compositions, and artistic collaborations have taken him across the United States and abroad, including projects in Europe and South America. As an orchestral musician, Cyzak has held positions with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, and Heartland Festival Orchestra, and has performed with ensembles including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Symphony, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and Peoria Bach Festival Orchestra. His playing can be heard on the Naxos and Nimbus Records labels.

Cyzak has also been active in arts leadership and musician advocacy. He served as an Executive Board Member and Director of Symphonic Services for the American Federation of Musicians Local 301 and was elected to the Peoria Symphony Orchestra Players Committee. He also served as Secretary of the International Double Reed Society Midnorth Chapter and co-hosted the organization’s inaugural Midnorth Symposium.

Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Dr. Cyzak earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with John Dee. His doctoral research explores the advanced vocal and instrumental techniques of Vinko Globokar's Oboe and English Horn works. He received a Master of Music Degree and Artist Diploma from The Hartt School under the tutelage of Humbert Lucarelli and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, where he studied with James Caldwell, Robert Walters, and Alex Klein.