In addition to leading the Opus Chorale, David F. Donathan is the full-time Minister of Music/Organist for Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, WV, a position he has held since 1992.  David is also an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church.  Since 2009, has has also been the Artistic Director and Conductor for The Opus Chorale of West Virginia who, in 2016,  traveled with the Opus Chorale to New York to sing in Carnegie Hall.

David graduated cum laude in 1985 with a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Akron, Akron, OH where his principal organ instructor was Dr. Barbara MacGregor. He graduated in 1987 with a Master of Church Music in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting from Scarritt Graduate School, a United Methodist College in Nashville, TN, where his principal organ instructor was Ms. Wilma Jensen and his principal conducting professor was Dr. Sandra Willetts. While at Scarritt, he also studied voice with Dr. Lonnie Bond, piano with Ms. Charlene Harb, and worked with composer/arranger Hal Hopson. David also has completed post-graduate studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH.

An active recitalist, clinician, and author, David is a certified Director of Music in the United Methodist Church (certified by the Board of Higher Education and Ministry). Under his leadership, the Chancel Choir of Christ Church has performed for both state and regional ACDA conferences. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the United Methodist Fellowship. From 2009 – 2012,  David served the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church as their music director. He also served as the music director for the Northeast Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church which met in Charleston, WV in 2012. David also served as the worship team chairperson for the national conference of the United Methodist Fellowship in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2013. In the fall of 2023, David joined the staff at West Virginia State University where he serves as the accompanist for the college choir.

David loves road cycling, and has done two charity bike rides for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through their “Team in Training” program for which he raised over $10,000 for cancer research.

David and his wife Karen have been married since 1985 and have two adult daughters: Kayla and Emily, and a dog named Melody.