Boise State Horn Professor: Legacy of Rigor and Regional Music

David Saunders died in August 2026 from injuries sustained in a hiking accident. The professor emeritus spent 27 years at Boise State University before retiring in 2019, where he instructed students in French horn, music history, and music theory.

Faculty members describe Saunders as an educator who maintained strict standards derived from his Ivy League training and professional performance history. Jeanne Belfy, a professor emerita, noted that Saunders held firm to the principles absorbed during his education and years of orchestral and chamber music performance. His private lessons for French horn students frequently resulted in placements at top conservatories and positions in orchestras across the United States.

Beyond the classroom, Saunders maintained an active performance schedule. He gave solo recitals and performed with faculty brass and woodwind chamber groups. Leslie Moreau, a clarinet professor, recalled touring the Pacific Northwest with the Boise State Woodwind Quintet. These tours were largely facilitated by long trips in Saunders' minivan. Moreau said the group played works by Hindemith and Poulenc, citing a particular enjoyment of those pieces performed with Saunders.

Saunders extended his influence into the wider Idaho musical community through the Treasure Valley Youth Symphony. He directed the organization for 13 years, using the position to introduce high school students to symphonic literature. Many of these students went on to study music at Boise State or other renowned conservatories.

The youth symphony also hosted annual silent film concerts at The Egyptian Theater. Saunders led the ensemble in playing along to the projected films, creating a multimedia performance for the local audience. These events served as unique opportunities for the young musicians and provided a cultural experience for the Treasure Valley.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Saunders, who performed with the Boise Philharmonic and taught orchestra in the Boise School District. Their sons, Jacob and Jonathan, also carry on the family's musical connection to Boise. Jacob serves as associate principal cello in the Boise Philharmonic and holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Boise State.