Guitar virtuoso David Starobin's performances have earned the native New Yorker prominence in the world of classical music. More than 300 works - solo, chamber, and concerto - have been composed for and dedicated to Starobin, redefining the modern guitar repertoire. Among the list of composers who have written for David Starobin are Elliott Carter, George Crumb, Poul Ruders, Mel Powell, Charles Wuorinen, Simon Bainbridge, Colin Matthews, Jonathan Harvey, Barbara Kolb, Richard Wernick, Roger Reynolds, Gunther Schuller, Milton Babbitt, Per Nrrgard, Lukas Foss, Mario Davidovsky, and Starobin's brother, Michael Starobin. Starobin has performed these works throughout the world, collaborating with ensembles including The New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Houston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Copenhagen Light Radio Orchestra, and the Odense Symphony Orchestra (Denmark). David Starobin's solo recordings have received honors from journals ranging from Guitar Player to Gramophone. His CD, “Newdance”, received both a Grammy nomination as “Best Classical Solo Recording”, and the Association for Independent Music's “Indie Award” for best classical CD of 1999. In 1981, David Starobin founded Bridge Records, Inc.. Starobin's work for Bridge as guitarist, producer and executive producer has earned Five “Indie” awards, eleven “Grammy” nominations, and numerous “Best of Year” awards from the international press.
David Starobin began his guitar studies at age 7, with the Puerto Rican guitarist Manuel Gayol, later working with Aaron Shearer at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. While a student at Peabody, Starobin worked closely with pianist Leon Fleisher, and was a frequent participant in the Marlboro Music Festival.
Among his many honors are a Harvard University Fromm Grant, for “his commitment to the music of our time”; a Lincoln Center Avery Fisher Grant; and Peabody Conservatory's “Distinguished Alumni Award”.
Since 1994, Starobin has been the chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music, where he holds the school's “Andres Segovia Chair”. His students have gone on to take top prizes in numerous international competitions, including: the Toronto, the Naumburg (New York), the Stotsenberg (Los Angeles), the Tokyo and the Tarrega (Spain).
Site; http://www.bridgerecords.com/ds_artist.htm