David
was born in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, where he began
developing his love of music from an early age. A piano student
from the age of five, he began singing in choir at seven, and at
eleven, embarked on his journey as an orchestral musician by taking up
the oboe. By the time he graduated from high school, he was
principal oboist for several semi-professional orchestras.
He continued his musical education at Cornell University, where he
minored in music while completing a B.A. in chemistry. His
performance resume broadly diversified while he served as principal
oboist for the Cornell University Symphony Orchestra, participated in
various chamber ensembles, and played in pit orchestras for staged
productions of music theater, opera, and oratorio.
David’s passion for opera was ignited in 1989 by two key performances,
both based on historical events. Hearing a recording of Maria
Callas in her famous portrayal of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at La Scala
catalyzed a life-long fascination with the three geniuses of Italian
bel canto: Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini. Then, hearing a radio
broadcast of John Adams’ Nixon in China piqued an interest in the
development and history of the operatic art form itself.
After receiving his M.S. in chemistry from the University of Washington
in 1991, he continued to cultivate his passion for opera during his 15
years as an environmental scientist through regular attendance at the
Metropolitan Opera and amassing a substantial library of books and
recordings. He has been writing about opera in print and online
since 2000, and completed his Ph.D. in chemistry at Rutgers University
in 2013.
David enjoys sharing his passion for science as much as he does his
love of opera. He is the creator and director of the LEEDAR
program: an innovative curriculum for mentoring high school students
and encouraging them to pursue advanced education and careers in
science.
When not in the lab or enjoying opera, he pursues his other passion:
distance running. A five-time marathoner (personal record: 3:38),
he typically logs about 75 miles a month on the roads and trails of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
David currently lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his two Labrador retrievers, Wally and Wilma.