David Starobin, guitar

Guitarist David Starobin is the dedicatee of more than 350 new works which he has performed throughout the world, collaborating with ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, Houston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Danish Radio Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Emerson and Guarneri quartets.

He began his guitar studies at age seven with the Puerto Rican guitarist Manuel Gayol, later working with Albert Valdes Blain and at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with Aaron Shearer. While a student at Peabody, Mr. Starobin worked closely with pianist Leon Fleisher and was a frequent participant in the Marlboro Music Festival.

Among Mr. Starobin's many honors are a Harvard University Fromm Grant for "his commitment to the music of our time"; Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Career Grant; ASCAP's Deems Taylor Award, and Peabody Conservatory's Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 1981 Mr. Starobin founded Bridge Records, Inc., which he served as president until 2005; he is currently director of artists and repertoire. His work for Bridge as performer, producer, and executive producer has earned three Grammy awards and twenty-two Grammy nominations.

Between 1993 and 2004, Mr. Starobin was the chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music, where he currently teaches. He previously headed guitar departments at Brooklyn College, Bennington College, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and at the State University of New York at Purchase. Mr. Starobin joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2011.