David Bass

David Bass (Founder and Musical Director). As a teenager, David was a prolific composer of pretentious music, but during his college studies, he became discouraged with pursuing music professionally. Instead, he received a BS in chemistry from Yale and a doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT, during which time he arranged dozens of songs for the a cappella groups at these institutions. After a 20-year hiatus from musical composition, David wrote the distinctly unpretentious Space Opera for the enjoyment of his three young children, their friends, and their families.

David directed productions of Space Opera in the spring of 1999, 2000, 20052011, and in 2019 for our 20th anniversary production. His second opera, The Coronation of Esther, was performed in 2001; and its sequel Springtime for Haman, was performed in 2004, in 2010, and again in 2017. David collaborated with noted actor and playwright John Kane on a fourth opera, Kids Court, performed in 2007 and again in 2015.

David has also directed six other Family Operas: Antiphony in 2002, 2006, and 2013; The Puzzle Jigs in 2003 and 2008; The Weaver's Wedding in 2009 and 2016; Flying High in 2012; Rain Dance in 2014; and NCFO's first commission, Weedpatch in 2018. He plans to continue writing music for as long as he can avoid taking himself too seriously.