David Harding
Viola
Professor, University of British Columbia
David Harding has an extensive solo and chamber music career, having performed throughout Europe, the United States, Canada Central America and Australia, in such venues as the Berlin Philharmonie, Concertgebouw, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. His performances have been broadcast on BBC, NPR, ABC (Australia) and Deutschland Radio. David is frequently featured on CBC Radio in Canada. He regularly performs at chamber music festivals throughout North America including the Seattle Chamber Music Society, Strings in the Mountains, Sitka Chamber Music Festival, Festival of the Sound, Cactus Pear Chamber Music Festival, Music in the Vineyards, and Telluride. In 2009, David performed at the Australian Chamber Music Festival.
David is a member of the Glass Chamber Players, Trio Verlaine and the American String Project, (a collaboration between quartet players, soloists and concertmasters). The New York-based Glass Chamber Players is a newly created ensemble formed by Philip Glass. Since its formation, the group has been favorably reviewed by the New York Times and has just released their first recording featuring Schoenberg's "Verklärte Nacht" and Philip Glass' "Sextet." With the flute, viola, harp ensemble "Trio Verlaine" David has recorded the Debussy Sonata as well as transcriptions of Debussy and Ravel, specially commissioned by the group. Trio Verlaine is committed to broadening the repertoire for this instrumental combination. They are delighted that Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer has agreed to write them a piece, which will be premiered at the 2011 World Harp Congress and will subsequently be performed by the Trio at various festivals through the summer of 2011. David was formerly the violist in the Chester String Quartet(resident at Indian University, South Bend,) the Toronto String Quartet and Triskelion String Trio. He toured extensively throughout Europe with the Vellinger Quartet and has collaborated with members of the Cleveland, Tokyo, St. Lawrence and Pacifica Quartets. David has made chamber music recordings for Sony, Crystal, Chesky, Innova and New Albion record labels. Notable CD projects include a recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, with Triskelion for CBC records, the music of Aaron Jay Kernis with the Chester Quartet and Brahms' Viola Sonatas and Horn Trio for Skylark Music.
A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, David's principal teachers were Paul Doktor, Emanuel Vardi and Tibor Vaghy. He was the winner of the Sir John Barbirolli award at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. David has given master classes at the Banff International Centre for the Arts and numerous
universities throughout North America. Future plans include collaborating with renowned pedagogue, Emmanuel Vardi, on a viola technique book, and a solo viola CD to featuring three of his own commissions. Having served on the faculty of Indiana University South Bend, he is currently Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the University of British Columbia. David plays on a viola made by Pietro Antonio della Costa, Tresviso Italy, circa 1750.
