David Southorn
Violinist David Southorn leads a dynamic career as a concertmaster, soloist, and chamber musician. Recent solo highlights include performances of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Fremont Symphony, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the Hendersonville Symphony, Aaron Jay Kernis’ AIR with the New Haven Symphony, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Delaware Symphony, where Delaware Arts Info praised him as “nothing less than brilliant… powerful sound; immaculate precision and compelling agility… impeccable phrasing and polished lyricism… a zestful performance.” As a chamber musician, Southorn has performed with the award-winning Amphion String Quartet at Alice Tully Hall as part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s CMS II program.
Southorn is the Concertmaster of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Assistant Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He is currently on the faculty of the Mannes School of Music at The New School and has recently conducted masterclasses and sectionals at Yale University and the University of North Florida.
The 2024-25 season features several exciting engagements, including a solo collaboration with Delaware Shakespeare, where he will perform works by Ysaye, Jessie Montgomery, Bach, and Biber. He will also present Bach’s Double Violin Concerto alongside Maxwell Brown with the Delaware Symphony and lead multiple conductor-less performances with the New Haven Symphony, featuring Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending.”
As a soloist, Southorn has performed with the New Jersey Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Hendersonville Symphony, Fremont Symphony, Portland Festival Symphony, and the New York Classical Players. Based in New York City, he has played with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and regularly performs as an extra with the New York Philharmonic, joining them on multiple domestic and international tours. He has also served as guest concertmaster for several orchestras, including the Jacksonville Symphony, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Incheon Philharmonic (South Korea), and Miami Symphony Orchestra.
In his chamber music career, Southorn’s notable performances with the Amphion Quartet have taken place at venues such as Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall, Chamber Music Northwest, La Jolla SummerFest, the Tilles Center, The Library of Congress, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., BargeMusic, Caramoor, Kneisel Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center, among others. He has recently appeared as a guest artist at the Garth Newel Music Center and has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Anne-Marie McDermott, Carter Brey, Anthony McGill, Ani Kavafian, David Shifrin, Edgar Meyer, and the Tokyo String Quartet. The Amphion Quartet’s recording with Nimbus Records was named a “Best Classical Album of 2015” by the New York Times and earned them several accolades, including winning the Concert Artists Guild competition.
Southorn holds a Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from Yale University, and a Professional Studies Certificate in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
-
Question & Answer
-
Hometown: I grew up in Portland and now live in New York City.
Musical Influence: I have been influenced musically by so many different people and experiences that it is hard to list them all. Most recently, the last seven years of playing with the Amphion String Quartet have had the biggest impact on my growth a musician. Playing regularly with the New York Philharmonic for the last few years has also been an incredible experience.
Practice Routine: I usually always start with scales, then I often like to move into a little Bach (even if only for a few minutes). Then, it’s a matter of priority and what music is coming up first. It is usually a combination of orchestra music, chamber music and solo works.
Motivation: Having the opportunity to play incredible music on a daily basis for a living is my motivation. I owe it to the composers for giving us great music and the audiences who keep coming to hear us to always prepare and constantly improve as a musician and violinist.
Advice for Young Musicians: Most importantly, enjoy yourself and have fun! Playing an instrument is never easy and requires constant dedication, patience and practice. However, the thrill of playing music you love at a high level for enthusiastic audiences is a feeling that makes it all worth it. I can’t stress enough how important it is to work on scales and technique early on as that will give you a foundation to be successful. Also, slow practice will actually help you learn a piece much faster and better.
Why Music Matters: Music matters to me for so many reasons. Simply put, it makes our lives better. I’ve played for those who are sick and in the hospital, and I can see that it brings healing and joy to their lives when they need it most. I have played for elementary students who’ve never heard classical music and am inspired to see how thrilled they are hearing a composer like Bartók or Beethoven for the first time. Music brings people together, lifts spirits and enriches our lives. I feel that my life matters largely because of music.
Inspired By: Through my life I’ve been inspired by incredible performers and teachers. I’m inspired on a daily basis by all the different fantastic colleagues I get to collaborate with and the music that I get to perform every week!
Best Concert You Ever Went To: There are too many “best” concerts to count. Hearing the Berlin Philharmonic for the first time at Carnegie Hall and the Hagen String Quartet play all-Beethoven concerts at the 92nd St come to mind first.
Most Unforgettable Music Moment: Among my most unforgettable moments were playing Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony as concertmaster with the Tanglewood Orchestra and James Levine, performing recitals at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall with my quartet, and most recently playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto as soloist for the first time with the Fremont Symphony.
One Fact About Yourself People Might Not Know: I’ve been studying Korean for a few years! (My wife is Korean.)
Favorite Thing to Do on an Off-Day: Go on a bike ride through Central Park or along the Hudson. I love golfing as well.
Favorite Day of the Year: The first day of summer vacation!
Favorite TV Show: So many ... my favorite shows of all time include “Game of Thrones,” “Homeland,” “Breaking Bad” and “Seinfeld.”
Favorite Sport: I like playing golf and watching baseball.
Mets or Yankees: Mets!
Best Thing About New Jersey (Besides the New Jersey Symphony!): Great Korean food in Fort Lee!
Favorite Foreign Country: South Korea
Favorite Drink: There is nothing better than a glass or two of good red wine at the end of the day.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mint chip
The One Thing You Would Need on a Desert Island: A fully charged satellite phone.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you want to be? It would be fun to play golf for a living (if I didn’t have a 30 handicap)!