David Darling
"Maverick cellist" is the phrase most often assigned to Grammy®-nominated artist David Darling, but it hardly captures the richness, diversity, breadth, and sense of humor of a man who literally redefines the way the cello is played and the way music is taught. His prolific collection of recordings and innovative performance style represent an eclectic variety of musical genres. His playful and unconventional teaching methods have helped open the world of music and improvisation to thousands of individuals.
David began piano lessons at the age of five and the study of classical cello at age 10. He attended Indiana State University, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education. He studied cello with internationally recognized artists/teachers Lorne Monroe, Gilbert Reese, Fritz Magg, and Janos Starker, while at the same time pursuing studies in music composition. He was a scholarship student with the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors, and studied jazz performance at Berklee School of Music in Boston.
David began piano lessons at the age of five and the study of classical cello at age 10. He attended Indiana State University, earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in music education. He studied cello with internationally recognized artists/teachers Lorne Monroe, Gilbert Reese, Fritz Magg, and Janos Starker, while at the same time pursuing studies in music composition. He was a scholarship student with the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors, and studied jazz performance at Berklee School of Music in Boston.
| Musical Experience | Saturday, August 23 | 7:00–7:40 pm |
Join David Darling and Jacqueline Bhuyan for this special performance of improvisations inspired by their life experiences and philosophies, including the foundational belief in the power of music to heal. Their music will emerge spontaneously in the moment, drawing on elements of the varying classical traditions and styles ranging from the early monastic chants to the later 19th–20th century period of impressionism, as well as from more modern folk and contemporary traditions.
Darling and Bhuyan have deep appreciation for the importance of silence as a partner in life and in music, as well as for the deep serenity it brings. Their music may be minimalist, gentle, and spacious, allowing for space and personal reflection. Or it will be more active and exalting, lyrical with rich harmonies, as they draw upon each other for inspiration in musical "conversation," and create moments of enrichment and relaxation. It is rare when two musicians can perfectly complement one another and achieve together what neither artist could alone. Friends since childhood in Elkhart, Indiana, Darling and Bhuyan are one such pair. They dedicate their music to those who inspired them and to all humanity, Mother Earth, and nature–the wondrous beauty of it all.