David Newman
Piano
Biography Listed in Who’s Who Among American Keyboard Artists, pianist David Newman began playing at the age of 3 in Rochester, New York. He later attended the State University of New York at Fredonia as a student of Phyllis East. While there, he earned the Performer’s Certificate, was winner of the annual Concerto Competition, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. Mr. Newman then continued his studies at the University of Michigan as a student of Theodore Lettvin, but left after only one year when he received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. Being the first American B.P. Scholar to be accepted to the Guildhall, he garnered its highest performing honor, the Concert Recital Diploma (Premier Prix), in addition to earning the Advanced Solo Studies Diploma while studying with Edith Vogel and Joan Havill (herself a former student of Nadia Boulanger).
Upon his return to the U.S., David renewed his studies with Mr. Lettvin, this time at Rutgers University graduating with a Master of Music degree in piano performance. As a teaching assistant at Rutgers, David taught piano to undergraduates, was staff accompanist in the studio of Bernard Greenhouse (of the Beaux Arts Trio), and was pianist for the Princeton Ballet Theater. He also served as organist and pianist for the school’s student ministries, as well as teaching piano and music appreciation classes at neighboring community colleges.
Moving to Chicago, Mr. Newman quickly became a musician much in demand for a variety of projects including recordings for the Steppenwolf Theater Company’s production of Another Time, starring Albert Finney, and could frequently be heard on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, broadcast live on WFMT. He served as staff accompanist in the studios of Robert Marcellus, Larry Combs, and other members of the Chicago Symphony, and could be heard in nearly every major venue in the city including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, DePaul University, the Chicago Cultural Center, and many others. He has served on the faculties of St. Xavier University and the Merit Music Program (a subsidized music education program for innercity children) as well as an adjudicator for numerous piano competition festivals. Mr. Newman also served as Music Director at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Evanston, Illinois for many years. Now a resident of Beloit, Wisconsin, David is an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the state.
Since arriving in 2008, Mr. Newman has had the pleasure of performing a number of concertos with many local orchestras, including the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra (Rhapsody in Blue), the Beloit College Orchestra (Liszt Concerto in E-flat), Lake Geneva (this time with conductor David Anderson) (Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2), and the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra (a reprise of Rhapsody in Blue). Since coming to Wisconsin, Mr. Newman has presented countless solo recitals and chamber recitals. He has been asked to adjudicate numerous piano competitions. He founded the chamber ensemble Zephyr which focuses on music written for piano and winds. He is the pianist for the Choral Union in Janesville, He recently joined the faculty of the Music Academy in Rockford, Illinois. And most recently, David happily accepted the position of pianist at the River of Life United Methodist Church in Beloit, Wisconsin, for whom he hopes to serve for many years.