PURPLE & GOLD CLUB
David Michael Wolff
David Michael Wolff, who attended LSHS in the early ‘90s, made his orchestral debut as piano soloist at the age of twelve. Three years later he entered the University of Washington on full scholarship majoring in Romance Languages and Piano Performance as a student of Robin McCabe. He later moved to New York City and obtained his Master’s Degree under the direction of Byron Janis, celebrated pupil of Vladimir Horowitz.
Wolff has won numerous prizes in international competitions, including grand prize in the Naomi Management International Competition in New York City. He was then presented in recital at Carnegie Hall, where he continues to appear regularly, both as pianist and conductor. In 2004, he won five consecutive first prizes in international competitions in Europe and as a result was engaged for numerous solo recitals in Europe. Hundreds of performances across North America, Europe and Asia have solidified his reputation as one of the foremost performing artists of his generation.
Wolff is an avid linguist, fluent in five languages, and is a sought-after coach of international opera stars as well as aspiring concert pianists. His diverse interests have led to collaborations with such artists as Mikhail Baryshnikov and to numerous commissions to arrange and compose works for opera, modern dance and other multi-media projects.
After firmly establishing his career as a concert pianist, Wolff took up the baton and began a second career as a conductor. After three years of study in Rome, he began performing throughout Italy, conducting opera (La Traviata, La Bohème and Tosca, among others) and symphonic works, as well as conducting piano concertos from the keyboard. Wolff is Principal Conductor of the Carolina Philharmonic.