David James Ferguson

1947 - 

David Ferguson, a singer and conductor, has been active in music throughout a career that has included serving as a minister in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for fifteen years and more recently working in financial planning and investments. Music has been an important part of his life since he graduated from college in the 1970s.

David was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, one of two sons of James and Sylvia Ferguson. Both parents were amateur musicians and they encouraged their children as they pursued music study.  David started accordion at age six and later learned alto and tenor saxophone. He started voice lessons while attending Mile High Academy and was active in its choral program. His music teacher, Dale Luke, was an inspiration for him and influenced his decision to seriously pursue music study at Union College following graduation from the academy in 1965.

Although he pursued and completed a B.A. in religion at Union College in 1970, Ferguson also completed a major in music, studying voice with Elmer Testerman and pursuing an emphasis in conducting. He sang in the University Singers while pursuing graduate study at Andrews University and completed an M.Div. at AU in 1973. He worked as a pastor and singing evangelist for fifteen years before making a career change and eventually working as a Certified Financial Planner until 2010.

Following graduation from UC, Ferguson married Janet Webb, a music major and organist, and they would have a son, Benjamin. Following a divorce in 1986, he married Peter Massey in 2008.  

Throughout his career Ferguson has sung extensively as a soloist in different settings, singing evangelist in Voice of Prophecy and other evangelistic campaigns, and singing in church choirs and other groups, including the City of Angels Master Chorale, Camerata of Los Angeles, California Philharmonic Chorus, and others. He has also conducted choirs in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and in Sacramento, Eagle Rock, LaCrescenta, and Burbank, California. His music activities have led to performances in Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow; Berlin Philharmonic Hall; Carnegie Hall: Glinka Kapelle, St. Petersburg; and other venues in South America, China, Finland, and the U.S.

Ferguson presently resides in Sunland, California, where he serves as chair of the music committee at the Glendale City SDA Church.

ds/2012

Source: Information provided by David Ferguson, October/November 2012.