David Winkler

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David Winkler earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Composition from Columbia University in New York in 1980.  Previous studies took place at the Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence, Italy and University of California in Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He has served on the faculties of Columbia University, the Lincoln Center Institute and was a jurist for the Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition were he also gave master classes (2001-2003, Kharkiv, Ukraine). In October 2008, Naxos International released a new CD of his symphonic music which includes the “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” and “Elements Concerti”, a four movement concerto for Violin and String Orchestra.

He recently completed a new one-act opera, "Pullman Car Hiawatha" based on the play by Thornton Wilder - the first ever operatic adaptation of that play from 1930. His list of works includes six operas, three symphonies, various symphonic works and concertos with orchestra, numerous concertos with string orchestra, chamber music, choral music and song cycles. Over the past several years he has received commissions and premieres from a variety of orchestras and ensembles in the USA, Europe, South America and Asia.

David Winkler has received a Leonard Bernstein Composer Fellowship, a Fromm Foundation Commission, the BMI Young Composer Award and a special ASCAP award.  Mr. Winkler has been composer in residence with the Aspen Music Festival, the Banff Centre, Opera/Omaha (1996 and 1997), the Chautauqua Opera and the Lincoln Center Institute. He has also received a fellowship grant by the New York Foundation for the Arts (2001)to support the creation of a variety of new symphonic works; and a commission grant by the New York State Council on the Arts to create new choral works.

David Winkler currently serves as the Executive and Artistic Director of Chamber Players International and the Long Island Mozart Festival since 1998.

Recent premieres include those by The Symphony Un Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina; National Symphony Orchestra of Bolivia, The Korean Broadcasting System, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, Queen's Chamber Band, Houston Grand Opera, and Kharkov Philharmonic (Ukraine) at The Long Island Mozart Festival (NY, USA). Previous commissions also include those from The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (in celebration of their 25th Anniversary) , and the Aspen Music Festival (in celebration of Dorothy Delay’s 75th Birthday). Recent commissions include those by Alabama Symphony (Birmingham, AL), The Verdeher Trio, the Voxare String Quartet and the International Chamber Soloists.

For a complete list of works, please visit www.davidwinklernyc.com/works