David Gaschen

Internationally renowned vocalist and stage performer David Gaschen remains best known for the years he devoted to the title character in "The Phantom of the Opera." That success did not arrive overnight; it only seems that way.

Gaschen graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, his home town, in 1993, his degree in vocal performance. He chose to move to Chicago, Ill., to begin his professional career. He performed in more than 20 musical plays in Chicago — and was cast by Light Opera Works of Chicago in the leading roles of Frederic in "The Pirates of Penzance," and Karl Franz in "The Student Prince." Acceptance in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" would not be far behind.

In fact, in May of 1995, he was cast as the alternate for The Phantom in the original Swiss production of "The Phantom of the Opera" in Basel, Switzerland. As an alternate, Gaschen averaged 3 to 4 performances per week as the Phantom. At age 26, Gaschen had become history's youngest performer cast as the Phantom in a professional production.

Gaschen’s first European performances were in German. Eventually, however, the immensely popular production in Basel began being produced six times in German, and twice in English, each week. Gaschen was a success in Europe. After refining the role of the Phantom over the course of two years in Switzerland, he was contracted to perform the lead in the German production of "The Phantom of the Opera” in Hamburg. Gaschen made the role his own, acting and singing as the Phantom more than 1,000 times in Europe.

At last, in August of 1999 David was asked to audition for the Broadway cast of Phantom. He was then asked to be in the cast and made his Broadway debut in the title role of "The Phantom of the Opera" in November 1999. All told, David has performed the role of the Phantom in professional productions worldwide more than 1,300 times.

While producers of "The Phantom of the Opera" still call on Gaschen to temporarily join productions when needed, the versatile performer eventually opted to leave Broadway and seek success in the recording and concert arenas. He already is included on the compact disc "Broadway's Fabulous Phantoms" with the likes of Howard McGillin, Hugh Panaro and Michael Crawford, the latter of course being Broadway's original and best known Phantom of the Opera.

However, he also recorded two solo CDs called "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy, "and "David Gaschen". He just recently released a new Christmas CD titled "A Celebration of Christmas." His recordings paved the way for pop music success, and his vocal guest appearances with orchestras include the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Allen Philharmonic Orchestra, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Longview Symphony Orchestra as well as internationally with the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra in Guadalajara Mexico.

David now lives in the Dallas Texas area, where he was asked by Stonebriar Community Church, the church founded by the world famous minister Charles Swindoll, to be the artist in residence.

From 2011-2014, David toured worldwide with Insight for Living Ministries, The world renown ministry of Charles Swindoll as the guest artist in Israel, Norway and Alaska.

David also runs a successful voice studio in Frisco, Texas. He has 60 students of all ages that are under his tutelage. The David Gaschen Voice studio was created in 2010.

Success on the professional stage would also find Gaschen honored in his hometown of Lubbock. In 1997 David was awarded with the Director’s Award of Excellence from the School of Music. In
September 2006, Gaschen was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame, where bronze plaques depict West Texas natives being honored for excelling professionally in the arts; this walk of fame
traditionally is located adjacent to a bronze statue of the late Buddy Holly, considered Lubbock's native son. Gaschen also returned to Lubbock to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Tech's School of Visual and Performing Arts. In 2018 David was honored to receive the distinguished Alumni Award for Texas Tech University.

In 2013 David was asked to make his Jean Valjean debut in Lubbock in the glorious sellout production of Les Miserables presented in conjunction with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and the Junior League of Lubbock.

His lifelong dream came to fruition in 2016. David was asked to reprise his role of the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera in Lubbock with a joint production of Lubbock Moonlight Broadway, and his alma mater Texas Tech University. The production was a huge success and made his dream come true.

In January of 2020, David was asked to deliver a Tedx talk in Frisco, TX. His talk was based on how faith in God guided him throughout his career.

Gaschen is most proud of his wonderful family. He thanks God every day for his beautiful bride Jeanne and his incredible children Andrew and Molly!